impeach
Impeach (verb) means to formally charge a public official with misconduct, often as a step toward removing them from office. Example: “Congress voted to impeach the president.”
How to use impeach
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo formally accuse an official of wrongdoing, or to challenge whether a witness can be trusted.
Impeachment is a formal charge/trial process — it does not automatically mean someone is removed from office; that's a separate conviction step.
Word forms
impeached past tense, impeaches singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Congress voted to _____ the president.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman empecher, from Latin impedicare, "to fetter, entangle" — related to the French empecher, "to prevent".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for impeach
See all rhymes for impeach →Frequently asked questions
What does “impeach” mean?
The word “impeach” means to formally charge a public official with misconduct, often as a step toward removing them from office. In plain terms, to formally accuse an official of wrongdoing, or to challenge whether a witness can be trusted.
How do you pronounce “impeach”?
“Impeach” is pronounced ihm-PEECH (/ɪmˈpiːt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “impeach” in a sentence?
Here is “impeach” used in a sentence: “Congress voted to impeach the president.”
What part of speech is “impeach”?
“Impeach” is a verb.
Where does the word “impeach” come from?
The word “impeach” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman empecher, from Latin impedicare, "to fetter, entangle" — related to the French empecher, "to prevent".
How many meanings does “impeach” have?
“Impeach” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to formally charge a public official with misconduct, often as a step toward removing them from office.