indictment

plural indictments · alternative endictment

1. countableuncountablelawAn official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.First known use 14th c.

   But she accomplished the third task — the one that mattered most to her boss — securing a criminal indictment against Mr. Comey, the former F.B.I. director.

   2025 September 27, “Inside the Trump Administration’s Push to Prosecute James Comey”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 01 Oct 2025

2. countableuncountablelawThe official legal document outlining the charges concerned; bill of indictment.First known use 16th c.

   […]— the indictment will remain sealed until his expected arraignment on Tuesday, when the charges will be formally revealed.

   2023 March 30, William K. Rashbaum, “This is what will happen when Trump is arrested in the coming days.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 21 Apr 2023

3. countableuncountableAn accusation of wrongdoing; a criticism or condemnation.First known use 19th c.

   I must say Humphrey, these facts are a frightening indictment of bureaucratic sloppiness and self-indulgence.

   1980 March 10, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “The Economy Drive”, in Yes, Minister, season 1, episode 3, spoken by Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington)

   2 more examples

   Can there be a greater indictment against patriotism than that it will thus brand a man a criminal, throw him into prison, and rob him of the results of fifteen years of faithful service?

   1910, Emma Goldman, “Patriotism: A Menace to Liberty”, in Anarchism and Other Essays

   I have been critical of the RDG in the past for merely being a cypher for government announcements, but the failure of its members to make a stand on this issue and not be complicit in the Government's subterfuge is a shocking indictment of their failure to protect the industry.

   2023 July 26, Christian Wolmar, “Closing ticket offices to lead to 'catch-22' for passengers”, in RAIL, number 988, page 42

4. countableuncountableEvidence of failure or poor performance.

   an indictment of his game

   2 more examples

   an indictment of his ability to lead

   a stinging indictment of our prison system