acquittal
An acquittal is a formal legal judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged. It occurs when a jury or judge determines that the prosecution has not proven the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Examples
3 of 5The neighborhood celebrated the local man's acquittal after months of tension.
The community was happy when the local man was found not guilty after a long time.
The defense attorney successfully argued for an acquittal based on procedural errors during the investigation.
The lawyer managed to get a 'not guilty' verdict because the police made mistakes.
I can't believe he got an acquittal with all that evidence against him!
I am shocked he was found not guilty despite the proof they had!
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'A-Quit-All'. The court tells the defendant they can 'quit' the courtroom because 'all' charges are dropped.
Quick Quiz
The defense team was confident that the lack of witnesses would lead to a(n) ________.
Correct!
The correct answer is: acquittal
Examples
The neighborhood celebrated the local man's acquittal after months of tension.
everydayThe community was happy when the local man was found not guilty after a long time.
The defense attorney successfully argued for an acquittal based on procedural errors during the investigation.
formalThe lawyer managed to get a 'not guilty' verdict because the police made mistakes.
I can't believe he got an acquittal with all that evidence against him!
informalI am shocked he was found not guilty despite the proof they had!
Legal scholars debate whether the high rate of acquittal in this jurisdiction suggests a flaw in the jury selection process.
academicExperts are discussing if the many 'not guilty' verdicts mean there is a problem with how juries are chosen.
Following the executive's acquittal, the company's stock price saw a significant rebound.
businessAfter the manager was found not guilty, the value of the company's shares went up again.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
motion for acquittal
a formal request for the judge to end the trial because the evidence is too weak
judgment of acquittal
a formal court order declaring a person not guilty
seek an acquittal
to try to be found innocent in court
Often Confused With
Acquaintance refers to a person you know slightly, whereas acquittal is a legal verdict of innocence.
Exoneration is a general term for being cleared of blame, while acquittal is specifically a court's verdict.
Usage Notes
Acquittal is a noun; the corresponding verb is 'acquit'. It is primarily used in legal or very formal contexts to describe the end of a criminal trial.
Common Mistakes
Learners often try to use 'acquittal' as a verb. For example, 'The jury acquittaled him' is incorrect; it should be 'The jury acquitted him'.
Memory Tip
Think of 'A-Quit-All'. The court tells the defendant they can 'quit' the courtroom because 'all' charges are dropped.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French 'aquiter', meaning 'to pay a debt' or 'to set free'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western legal systems, an acquittal triggers 'double jeopardy' protections, meaning the person cannot be tried again for the same crime.
Quick Quiz
The defense team was confident that the lack of witnesses would lead to a(n) ________.
Correct!
The correct answer is: acquittal
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