indictment

Etymology

18th-century Latinized respelling of Middle English endytement (“action of accusing”), from Anglo-Norman enditement, from enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from Latin indictus.

noun

1. (law) An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.
2. (law) The official legal document outlining the charges concerned; bill of indictment.
   […]— the indictment will remain sealed until his expected arraignment on Tuesday, when the charges will be formally revealed. 2023-03-30, William K. Rashbaum, “This is what will happen when Trump is arrested in the coming days.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
3. (countable, uncountable) An accusation of wrongdoing; a criticism or condemnation.
   Can there be a greater indictment against patriotism than that it will thus brand a man a criminal, throw him into prison, and rob him of the results of fifteen years of faithful service? 1910, Emma Goldman, “Patriotism: A Menace to Liberty”, in Anarchism and Other Essays
   I have been critical of the RDG in the past for merely being a cypher for government announcements, but the failure of its members to make a stand on this issue and not be complicit in the Government's subterfuge is a shocking indictment of their failure to protect the industry. July 26 2023, Christian Wolmar, “Closing ticket offices to lead to 'catch-22' for passengers”, in RAIL, number 988, page 42
4. Evidence of failure or poor performance.
   an indictment of his ability to lead
   an indictment of his game