Definition of "indictment"

indictment

/ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural indictments
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.
  Quotations
  […] — the indictment will remain sealed until his expected arraignment on Tuesday, when the charges will be formally revealed.
  2023 March 30, William K. Rashbaum, “This is what will happen when Trump is arrested in the coming days.”, in The New York Times‎
3. (countable, uncountable) An accusation of wrongdoing; a criticism or condemnation.
  Quotations
  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.
  2023 July 26, 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.