acquitted; acquitting
1
: to discharge completely (as from an accusation or obligation)
The court acquitted the prisoner.
2
: to conduct (oneself) usually satisfactorily especially under stress
The recruits acquitted themselves like veterans.
acquitter
noun
Examples of acquit in a Sentence
The jury acquitted the defendant because there wasn't enough evidence to convict him of the crime.
acquitted of the robbery charge after proving he was nowhere near the scene of the crime
Recent Examples on the Web
In Kelly’s case, he had been acquitted in 2008 and as a result, many of his accusers lost confidence in law enforcement.
—
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Although Simpson was acquitted in a criminal trial of killing the two, he was sued by their families for wrongful death and found liable by a civil jury.
—Sara Smart, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
Simpson, who died on Wednesday at age 76, was acquitted after being charged in the 1994 killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
In 1995, Simpson was famously and controversially acquitted of murder in Goldman and Brown Simpson's deaths.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
The football great Orenthal James Simpson, known as O.J., who was accused and ultimately acquitted in the killings of his ex-wife and her friend, has died.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
He was acquitted of both murders in a controversial verdict.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Death of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman But despite great sports triumphs, Simpson is perhaps better known for being accused and later acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
Simpson predicted there was enough doubt to acquit Murdaugh of killing his wife and son.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Although Simpson was acquitted in a criminal trial of killing the two, he was sued by their families for wrongful death and found liable by a civil jury.
—Sara Smart, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
Simpson, who died on Wednesday at age 76, was acquitted after being charged in the 1994 killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
In 1995, Simpson was famously and controversially acquitted of murder in Goldman and Brown Simpson's deaths.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
The football great Orenthal James Simpson, known as O.J., who was accused and ultimately acquitted in the killings of his ex-wife and her friend, has died.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
He was acquitted of both murders in a controversial verdict.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Death of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman But despite great sports triumphs, Simpson is perhaps better known for being accused and later acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
Simpson predicted there was enough doubt to acquit Murdaugh of killing his wife and son.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acquit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near acquit
Cite this Entry
“Acquit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquit. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acquit
verb
ac·quit
ə-ˈkwit 
acquitted; acquitting
1
: to declare innocent of a crime or wrongdoing
2
: to conduct (oneself) usually satisfactorily
Legal Definition
acquit
verb
ac·quit
ə-ˈkwit
acquitted; acquitting
: to discharge completely: as
a
: to release from liability for a debt or other obligation
—usually used in agreements
forever release, acquit, and discharge each other
b
: to absolve (a criminal defendant) of a charge by judicial process
c
: to clear of wrongdoing
the fact…does not acquit them of misrepresentation—In re Hiller, 694 P.2d 540 (1985)
In re Hiller, 694 P.2d 540 (1985)
: to absolve a defendant of criminal liability
must acquit if any reasonable doubt existed—Commonwealth v. Gagliardi, 638 N.E.2d 20 (1994)
compare convict
Commonwealth v. Gagliardi, 638 N.E.2d 20 (1994)Etymology
Old French acquiter to pay off, absolve, acquit, from a-, prefix marking causation + quite free (of an obligation)
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