verb
indict
ihn-DYT
verb
1
To formally charge someone with a crime.
"The grand jury voted to indict the former executive on fraud charges."
How to Use Indict
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo formally accuse someone of a crime, typically through a grand jury.
Common mistake
The "c" is silent — it's pronounced "in-DYTE," not "in-DIKT." Don't confuse with "indite," an old word meaning "to write."
Easily confused with
indite
Common pairings
indict on charges
indicted for fraud
grand jury indicts
Word Forms
indicted past tense, indicts singular
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The grand jury voted to _____ the former executive on fraud charges.
Etymology
From Middle English enditen, "to accuse," from Old French enditer, ultimately from Latin indicere, "to proclaim." The unusual "c" spelling was added later to echo the Latin form, though it isn't pronounced.