impeach
v.v. to officially charge a high-ranking government leader with a crime. It is the first step toward deciding if they should be removed from their job.
v. to bring a formal accusation of misconduct against a public official by a legislative body. Often serves as the preliminary step toward a trial for removal from office.
The legislature voted to impeach the governor for corruption.
Legal experts debated whether the official's actions met the constitutional requirements to impeach a sitting president.
While the power to impeach is a vital check on executive authority, the process requires a high burden of proof to ensure it is not used for purely partisan motivations.
From Middle English empechen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman empecher, from Old French empeechier (“to hinder”), from Latin impedicāre (“to fetter”). Cognate with French empêcher (“to prevent”).
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a high-ranking official.
The president was impeached and removed immediately.The president was impeached and then faced a trial.Impeach refers only to the formal accusation or charge, not the final conviction or removal from office.