Acquittal
noun /əˈkwɪt.əl/ — A formal declaration in court that a defendant is not guilty.
Definition
The formal legal judgment that the accused is not guilty of the charges brought — releasing them from criminal liability. An acquittal is not a finding of innocence; it is a finding that the prosecution has not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Beyond the definition
An acquittal should feel like freedom but doesn't always — the cloud of what was alleged doesn't lift with the verdict. The law says not guilty; people remember the charge.
Origin & history
From Old French 'aquiter' (to clear); from Medieval Latin 'acquietare' (to put at rest). To put the debt to rest.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The acquittal came after three weeks of testimony — the jury deliberated for two hours before the foreman stood.
After the acquittal, he gave no statement. The legal victory said everything the law allowed him to say.
History has acquitted people courts convicted, and convicted people courts acquitted — the gap between legal truth and historical truth.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Acquittal” when the meaning fits your context: The formal legal judgment that the accused is not guilty of the charges brought — releasing them from criminal liability. An acquittal is not a finding of innocence; it is a finding that the prosecution has not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Synonyms
not guilty verdict, clearance, discharge, exoneration
Antonyms
conviction, guilty verdict
Related words
Acquittal vs dismissal
An acquittal is a formal verdict of not guilty reached after evidence has been presented. A dismissal ends a case prematurely, often on procedural grounds, before a final verdict on the merits is reached.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult Standing Alone In Court
An adult stands in a vast, silent, wood-paneled courtroom, holding a single document, reflecting their release from the legal burden.
An acquittal is the formal judgment that an accused is not guilty. The solitude of the individual in the court visualizes the relief of being released from criminal liability, though it is not a declaration of innocence.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Acquittal" mean?
Acquittal is noun meaning: A formal declaration in court that a defendant is not guilty.. The formal legal judgment that the accused is not guilty of the charges brought — releasing them from criminal liability. An acquittal is not a finding of innocence; it is a finding that the prosecution has not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Where does the word "Acquittal" come from?
From Old French 'aquiter' (to clear); from Medieval Latin 'acquietare' (to put at rest). To put the debt to rest.