What does "accused" mean?

1. (the defendant) the person or group of people being charged with a crime in a court case. 2. (charged with a crime) describing someone who has been blamed for doing something wrong or illegal.

How do you use "accused"?

Usually used with the definite article 'the' to refer to a specific person or a group.

accused

n. · adj.

US //əkˈjuzd// UK //ɐkjˈuːzd// ac·cused

1 the defendant (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

the person or group of people being charged with a crime in a court case.

the person or party officially charged with an offence in a criminal trial. Often used as a collective noun with 'the'.

Example

The accused stood up when the judge entered the courtroom.

Example

The accused maintained a stoic expression throughout the trial, even as the prosecution presented the forensic evidence against him.

Usage

Usually used with the definite article 'the' to refer to a specific person or a group.
- defendant
- culprit
- accuser
- prosecutor
2 charged with a crime (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describing someone who has been blamed for doing something wrong or illegal.

having been the subject of an accusation or official charge.

Example

The accused man refused to answer any questions without his lawyer.

Example

The accused officer was suspended from duty pending the outcome of the internal investigation into the missing funds.
- blamed
- charged
- exonerated
- cleared

Origin

* (noun): First attested in the 1590's. * From accuse (“blame”) + -ed