Definition

A person who is formally charged with a crime in a legal case.

Example

The accused was found not guilty by the jury.

Conversation

Did you hear about the case where the accused claimed they were innocent?

Yeah, it seems really complicated and intense.

I wonder how they will prove the accused's innocence in court.

It'll be interesting to see how the evidence unfolds.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Accused → It is formed from "ad-" (meaning to) and "causare" (meaning to cause or bring about). The word refers to someone who has been brought to account for a cause or charge against them.

Memory Tip

Think of someone being 'brought to account' ('ad-') for a 'cause' ('causare') — that's why accused means someone who is charged with a wrongdoing.

Visually Confused Words