Other forms: acquittals
An acquittal is the court's declaration that the accused is not guilty. Secure an acquittal, an acquittal on all counts, after the acquittal.
It is not a finding of innocence: it means the case was not proved to the required standard, and no court in the common law world declares anybody innocent. In most systems an acquittal cannot be appealed, which is the rule against double jeopardy.
1nounacquittalThe court's declaration that the accused is not guilty.
“Her family hugged and cried in the courtroom when they heard the news of her acquittal.”
acquittal is a verdict.
Medieval Latin
acquitāre — to settle a debt
Old French
aquiter — to act, do
Middle English
aquiten — to give in return; to pay, repay; to redeem (a pledge, security), to make good (a promise); to make amends; to relieve of an obligation; to acquit, clear of a charge; to free; to deprive of; to do one's part, acquit oneself; to act, behave (in a certain way)
English
acquit
English, today
acquittal
Built from
From acquit + -al. acquit comes from Middle English aquiten (“to give in return; to pay, repay; to redeem (a pledge, security), to make good (a promise); to make amends; to relieve of an obligation; to acquit, clear of a charge; to free; to deprive of; to do one's part, acquit oneself; to act, behave (in a certain way)”), from Old French aquiter (“to act, do”) and Medieval Latin acquitāre (“to settle a debt”), from ad- (“to”) + quitare (“to free”), equivalent to a + quit. a doublet of acquiet; also related to quit, quiet and acquiesce.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA