noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:/ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N D AY1 T M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The official legal document outlining the charges concerned; bill of indictment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An accusation of wrongdoing; a criticism or condemnation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Evidence of failure or poor performance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
an indictment of his ability to lead
an indictment of his game
a stinging indictment of our prison system
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
a formal document written for a prosecuting attorney charging a person with some offense
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bill of indictment
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument
Narrower terms: murder charge, murder indictment, true bill
6
noun
Meaning 6
an accusation of wrongdoing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the book is an indictment of modern philosophy
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: accusation, accusal
History
Etymology
18th-century Latinized respelling of Middle English endytement (“action of accusing”), from Anglo-Norman enditement, from enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from Latin indictus.
Across languages
Translations
67 source translations are retained for this English entry.
