# accused

/əkˈjuzd/ (US) · /ɐkjˈuːzd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accused
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the defendant

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

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

- The accused stood up when the judge entered the courtroom.
- 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.

### 2. charged with a crime

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: having been the subject of an accusation or official charge.

- The accused man refused to answer any questions without his lawyer.
- The accused officer was suspended from duty pending the outcome of the internal investigation into the missing funds.

## Examples

- The accused stood up when the judge entered the room.
- The lawyer for the accused argued that there was not enough evidence to prove his client was at the scene.
- Throughout the lengthy trial, the accused maintained a calm expression, even as the prosecution presented a series of witnesses who claimed to have seen the events unfold.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.