not guilty
The term "not guilty" is central to criminal trials, indicating either a defendant's plea or a court's verdict that the defendant is not responsible for the crime charged.
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Definition
B2Criminal Trials
(formal, legal)A plea by a defendant denying they committed the crime they are accused of.
Example
- The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
B2Criminal Trials
(formal, legal)A verdict by a judge or jury stating that the prosecution has not proven the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Example
- The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "not guilty":