Word
acquittal
Phoneticsac·quit·tal, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈkwɪtəɫ/
UK/ɐkwˈɪtəl/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a formal decision in a court of law that someone is not guilty of a crime. It happens when a judge or jury decides there is not enough evidence to convict you.
n. a formal legal judgment that an accused person is not guilty of the charges brought against them. Occurs when the prosecution fails to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Examples
“The trial ended in an acquittal for the defendant.”
“Despite the intense media scrutiny, the jury returned an acquittal after only three hours of deliberation.”
“Legal experts noted that the acquittal was largely due to the exclusion of key evidence that had been obtained without a proper warrant.”
Examples
simple
“The trial ended in an acquittal for the defendant.”
contextual
“Despite the intense media scrutiny, the jury returned an acquittal after only three hours of deliberation.”
complex
“Legal experts noted that the acquittal was largely due to the exclusion of key evidence that had been obtained without a proper warrant.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' to specify the charge, as in 'an acquittal of all charges'.
Real-World Examples
“Simpson’s attorneys pointed to the racist policing practices and the department’s handling of key evidence, helping them secure the acquittal.” “Judge Ofir Tishler said that although Schrieber had attacked the nun, he was ordering his acquittal due to his mental health.” “Following the jury's decision, Ms Braverman referred the case to the Court of Appeal, so judges could "clarify the law for future cases" - without affecting the acquittal of the four.” Etymology
From acquit + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/acquittal