What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pardoned
Example
The governor pardoned the prisoner for his crime. [pardoned: verb]
Example
The president granted a pardon to the convicted criminal. [pardon: noun]
acquit
Example
The jury acquitted the defendant of all charges. [acquitted: verb]
Example
The judge declared an acquittal due to lack of evidence. [acquittal: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Acquit is more commonly used than pardoned in legal contexts and news reports. Pardoned is less common and usually reserved for executive clemency or acts of mercy.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pardoned and acquit?
Both pardoned and acquit are formal words that are typically used in legal or official contexts. However, acquit is more commonly used in legal proceedings and is therefore more formal than pardoned.
