acquittal
gb/əkwˈɪtəl/ us/əkwˈɪtəl/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
legal
C1
event
1
not-guilty court decision
A legal decision that someone is not guilty of a crime.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s acquittal; acquittal on/of [a charge]; acquittal by [a court/jury]
Common mistake:
An acquittal means the court found the person not guilty; it does not always mean everyone agrees the person was innocent.
Synonyms
not-guilty verdict (Plain phrase for the same legal result.)
|
exoneration (Broader term suggesting someone is cleared of blame, not only in court.)
Antonyms
conviction (A legal decision that someone is guilty.)
|
guilty verdict (The opposite court or jury finding.)
Collocations
win an acquittal
|secure an acquittal
|return an acquittal
|a verdict of acquittal
|a jury acquittal
|a full acquittal
|acquittal on all charges
|acquittal of murder
|lead to an acquittal
|after his acquittal
Themes
law
|crime
|courts
Examples
- The jury's acquittal shocked many people who had followed the trial.
- After his acquittal, he said he wanted to rebuild his life away from the public eye.
- The defense lawyer argued that the lack of physical evidence should lead to an acquittal.
Learner examples
- His family cried with relief after the acquittal.
- The trial ended in an acquittal.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acquittal
IPA
GB/əkwˈɪtəl/
US/əkwˈɪtəl/
Syllables & stress
ac - quit - tal (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (quit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: acquittal
- Plural: acquittal, acquittals
Expressions
judgment of acquittal
1/d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt əv əkwˈɪtəl/
fixed phrase
legal
judge's not-guilty ruling
A judge's decision that the prosecution has not shown enough evidence to convict someone.
Examples
- The judge entered a judgment of acquittal after finding that the prosecution had not proved an essential element of the offense.
- Her lawyer asked the court for a judgment of acquittal at the close of the government's case.
motion for judgment of acquittal
1/mˈoʊʃən fɚ d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt əv əkwˈɪtəl/
fixed phrase
legal
request for acquittal ruling
A request from the defense asking the judge to end the case with an acquittal because there is not enough evidence.
Examples
- The defense filed a motion for judgment of acquittal after the prosecution rested its case.
- The judge denied the motion for judgment of acquittal, so the trial continued.