PoliticsJuly 16, 2026

acquittal

/əˈkwɪt.əl/

Definition

A formal verdict or judgment in a court of law stating that a person accused of a crime is not guilty.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'aquiten,' meaning to set free or pay off a debt. It comes from the Old French 'aquiter,' which combines 'a-' (to) and 'quite' (free or clear).

In the news

The article mentions that a jury issued an acquittal for Ross Wardlaw regarding previous battery and assault charges, noting that his defense successfully argued he acted in self-defense.

'This Greenbelt belongs to us': With homeless man accused of murder in Boise, politics, policy, and history loom over case

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