acquittal
noun
ac·quit·tal
ə-ˈkwi-tᵊl 
: a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence, or other legal process
Examples of acquittal in a Sentence
The case resulted in acquittal of the defendant.
Several jurors voted for acquittal.
The case resulted in an acquittal of the defendant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Drummond had found that trial attorneys hid evidence that might have led to an acquittal but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals said last year that Drummond’s request to set aside Glossip’s conviction was not sufficient reason to halt his execution.
—
James Powel, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Black Lives Matter began in 2013 in response to the acquittal of the man who murdered Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager.
—Karyn Vilbig, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025
Politics Trump signs orders to crack down on immigration, send troops to the border
Jan. 20, 2025
The last time the act was invoked was in 1992 during rioting in Los Angeles in protest of the acquittal of four police officers charged with beating Rodney King.
—Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Or the way Black Twitter compared the acquittal of Casey Anthony with the conviction of Shanesha Taylor, a young mother put in jail for leaving her kids in the car during a job interview.
—J Wortham, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acquittal
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James Powel, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Black Lives Matter began in 2013 in response to the acquittal of the man who murdered Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager.
—Karyn Vilbig, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025
Politics Trump signs orders to crack down on immigration, send troops to the border
Jan. 20, 2025
The last time the act was invoked was in 1992 during rioting in Los Angeles in protest of the acquittal of four police officers charged with beating Rodney King.
—Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Or the way Black Twitter compared the acquittal of Casey Anthony with the conviction of Shanesha Taylor, a young mother put in jail for leaving her kids in the car during a job interview.
—J Wortham, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acquittal
Cite this Entry
“Acquittal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquittal. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acquittal
noun
ac·quit·tal
ə-ˈkwit-ᵊl
: the freeing (as by verdict) of a person from the charge of a crime
Legal Definition
acquittal
noun
ac·quit·tal
ə-ˈkwit-ᵊl
1
: release or discharge from debt or other liability
2
: a setting free or deliverance from the charge of an offense by verdict of a jury, judgment of a court, or other legal process see also implied acquittal, judgment of acquittal at judgment sense 1a compare conviction
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