acquittal Definition
a judgment or verdict that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged.
Using acquittal: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "acquittal" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The defendant was granted an acquittal due to lack of evidence.
Example
The jury returned a verdict of acquittal after a lengthy trial.
Example
The prosecutor was disappointed with the acquittal of the accused.
acquittal Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for acquittal
Antonyms for acquittal
- conviction
- guilty verdict
Phrases with acquittal
an acquittal resulting from the failure of the prosecution to present a case against the accused
Example
The defendant was granted an acquittal by default when the prosecution failed to produce any evidence.
Example
The defendant was overjoyed with the acquittal on all counts.
Example
The acquittal rate for murder cases in this state is very low.
Origins of acquittal
from Old French 'aquiter', meaning 'to set free'
Summary: acquittal in Brief
'Acquittal' [əˈkwɪt(ə)l] refers to a judgment or verdict that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged. It is often granted due to lack of evidence or failure of the prosecution to present a case against the accused. Phrases like 'acquittal by default' and 'acquittal on all counts' describe specific types of acquittal. 'Acquittal rate' denotes the percentage of cases in which the accused is acquitted.