indictment
n.-
1 legal charge (n.) C1 Advanced Formal Lawa formal, written statement that accuses someone of a serious crime.
a formal written accusation as a preliminary step to a criminal trial, typically issued by a grand jury.
ExampleThe grand jury issued an indictment against the executive for fraud.
ExampleThe federal indictment detailed twenty-four counts of conspiracy and money laundering, effectively ending the politician's career before the trial even began.
UsageOften used with the preposition 'for' followed by the crime, or 'against' followed by the person.
- acquittal
- exoneration
-
2 sign of failure (n.) C1 Advanced Formala sign that a system, situation, or way of life is very bad or failing.
an expression or piece of evidence that serves as a strong condemnation of a particular system or practice.
ExampleThe high poverty rate is a sad indictment of the country's economic system.
ExampleThe report serves as a damning indictment of the prison system, highlighting systemic neglect and a total lack of rehabilitation resources.
UsageCommonly follows the pattern 'an indictment of' something.
Teacher's tipIn this figurative sense, the word is often paired with adjectives like 'damning', 'sad', or 'scathing'.
18th-century Latinized respelling of Middle English endytement (“action of accusing”), from Anglo-Norman enditement, from enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from Latin indictus.