accused

Meaning

1. 1nounusually singularlegal

   A person or people formally charged with a crime who are not yet proven guilty.

   Grammar: Often used as the accused with a singular or plural verb; one person: the accused is, several people: the accused are.

   Patterns

   • the accused
   • the accused is/are
   • defend the accused
   • on behalf of the accused

   The accused listened while the judge read the charges.

   In court, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

   The lawyer said the accused were too scared to speak.

Word forms

Common combinations

the accused

The accused entered the courtroom with a lawyer.

presumed innocent until proven guilty

The trial reminds jurors that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

represent the accused

A public defender agreed to represent the accused.

the accused pleads not guilty

When the accused pleads not guilty, the trial continues.

Synonyms and how they differ

defendant

Defendant is the party answering a case in court; it can include civil cases and is less tied to crime than accused.

suspect

Suspect is used earlier, when police think someone may be guilty but have not formally charged them.

offender

Offender suggests the person actually did wrong, while accused only means formally charged, not proven guilty.

Opposites

Word family

accuse verb

To claim that someone did something wrong.

accusation noun

The claim that someone did something wrong.

accusatory adjective

Expressing blame or suspicion.

Commonly confused: accused or charged? accused or guilty?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “accused”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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