indict
indict Lexical Profile
indict Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To formally accuse or charge someone with a serious crime, especially through the finding of a grand jury.
"The federal grand jury voted to indict the former executive on multiple counts of securities fraud."
To criticize, condemn, or expose something as flawed, harmful, or morally wrong.
"Her investigative documentary serves to indict the entire fast-fashion industry for its environmental impact."
Word Nuance & Usage
The letter 'c' in 'indict' is completely silent, so the word is pronounced to rhyme with 'bite'. In formal legal contexts, 'indict' specifically means to bring a formal criminal charge via a grand jury, whereas 'convict' means to find a defendant guilty after a trial.
• Rhymes for indict
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English as 'enditen' from Anglo-French 'enditer' (to accuse or dictate), ultimately from Late Latin 'indictare' (to proclaim or declare publicly). In the 16th century, scribes respelled the word with a 'c' to reflect its Latin root, though the older French-derived pronunciation without the 'c' sound remained.