Standard Lemma guide

self-incrimination

noun · 2 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Act of giving testimony, in a trial, that would incriminate oneself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an accusation that incriminates yourself

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: incrimination, inculpation, blame

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbh-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English incrimination English self-incrimination From self- + incrimination.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 自證其罪 /自证其罪 (zìzhèngqízuì) — giving testimony that would incriminate oneself
  • Finnish: itsensä syyllistäminen — giving testimony that would incriminate oneself
  • Finnish: itsekriminointi — giving testimony that would incriminate oneself
  • Polish: samoobwinienie — giving testimony that would incriminate oneself
  • Polish: samooskarżenie — giving testimony that would incriminate oneself