angeklagt
accuse
Definition & meaning
angeklagt means accused or formally charged. It usually refers to someone whom prosecutors have officially accused of a crime. In broader contexts, it can mean that someone is accused of wrongdoing, though it does not by itself mean they are guilty.
Grammar & word origin
angeklagt is the past participle of anklagen , “to accuse” or, especially in a legal context, “to charge.” The verb consists of the separable prefix an- and klagen , “to complain” or “to bring a legal action.”
It commonly appears after sein or werden [?](vocabuo://word/werden], as in “to be charged” or “to be accused.” As an adjective, it takes endings according to the noun it describes, such as angeklagter , angeklagte , and angeklagtes .
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- beschuldigt — “accused”; broader and less specifically tied to a formal criminal charge.
- verklagt — “sued”; usually refers to being taken to court in a civil case, rather than facing a criminal charge.
Antonyms
- freigesprochen — “acquitted”; means a court has found the defendant not guilty, so it describes a later legal outcome rather than simply the opposite status.
- entlastet — “cleared” or “exonerated”; broader than freigesprochen and does not necessarily refer to a court verdict.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Der Mann wird des Diebstahls angeklagt.adjective
The man is accused of theft.
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