indictment

 
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈdʌɪtm(ə)nt/

noun

  • 1chiefly North American a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime: an indictment for conspiracy
  • [mass noun] the action of indicting or being indicted: the indictment of twelve people who had imported cocaine
  • 2a thing that serves to illustrate that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned: these rapidly escalating crime figures are an indictment of our society

Origin:

Middle English enditement, inditement, from Anglo-Norman French enditement, from enditer (see indict)