indictment
noun
in·dict·ment
in-ˈdīt-mənt 
plural indictments
1
: a formal written statement prepared by a prosecuting authority charging a person with a crime and returned by a jury (such as a grand jury) upon finding that sufficient evidence to support it was presented
The state filed a one-hundred-count indictment against him that included murder, drug trafficking, prostitution, arson, and scores of other crimes.—
Sidney Sheldon
Sidney SheldonThe grand jury handed up Indictment No. 2 on November 19, 1998.—US v. Barnes, 251 F. 3d 251 (Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit 2001)
US v. Barnes, 251 F. 3d 251 (Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit 2001)If a district attorney takes or agrees to take from any person money … and an indictment is handed down or a presentment is made to this effect, the district attorney shall be disqualified from further discharging his or her official duties until a trial is had upon the indictment or presentment.—Official Code of Georgia Annotated, section 15-18-26 (2022)
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, section 15-18-26 (2022)2
a
: the action or the legal process of indicting
Felony cases are typically charged by indictment.
… reporters keen on finding out which City Hall figures were in danger of indictment …—Andy Logan
Andy LoganThe accused person, after indictment, is brought before the court. He may plead guilty or not guilty. If the plea is guilty, the judge sentences the person. If the plea is not guilty, a trial is held.—Stanley E. Dimond and Elmer F. Pflieger
Stanley E. Dimond and Elmer F. Pflieger
b
: the state of being indicted
He was frequently known to proceed with sales despite strong evidence that ownership of lots was in question—in one case a seller was under indictment for forgery and grand larceny.—Douglas C. McGill
Douglas C. McGill3
: an expression of strong disapproval
an indictment of government policy on immigrants
She intended the film to be an indictment of the media.
… the book is a stinging indictment of American political history …—Debra Rae Cohen
Debra Rae CohenExamples of indictment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In one of his first acts as mayor, Zohran Mamdani on Thursday revoked nine executive orders his predecessor, Eric Adams, issued after his federal corruption indictment, a move that undid actions pertaining to everything from antisemitism and immigration to New York City’s horse carriage industry.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani began his term by voiding all of his predecessor’s executive orders signed after his September 2024 indictment, including several pro-Israel ones.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
As one of his opening acts in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swiftly reversed every executive order his predecessor, Eric Adams, signed after his indictment on federal corruption charges, including two that pertained to Israel.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Cole faces two criminal offenses, but the magistrate judge put off immediately accepting an indictment returned by a grand jury convened in the District of Columbia Superior Court on Monday.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for indictment
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Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani began his term by voiding all of his predecessor’s executive orders signed after his September 2024 indictment, including several pro-Israel ones.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
As one of his opening acts in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swiftly reversed every executive order his predecessor, Eric Adams, signed after his indictment on federal corruption charges, including two that pertained to Israel.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Cole faces two criminal offenses, but the magistrate judge put off immediately accepting an indictment returned by a grand jury convened in the District of Columbia Superior Court on Monday.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for indictment
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Cite this Entry
“Indictment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indictment. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
indictment
noun
in·dict·ment
in-ˈdīt-mənt
1
: the act or process of indicting
2
: an official written statement charging a person with a crime
Legal Definition
indictment
noun
in·dict·ment
in-ˈdīt-mənt
1
: the action or the legal process of indicting
2
a
: a formal written statement framed by a prosecuting authority and found by a grand jury that charges a person or persons with an offense compare complaint, information
b
: bill of indictment at bill 3b
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