impeachment

IPA/ɪmˈpiːtʃmənt/
KK[ˌɪmpˈitʃmənt]IPA/ɪmˈpiːtʃmənt/

impeachment — noun

  • impeachmentsingular
  • impeachmentsplural

1. a formal process in which a legislative body brings charges of serious wrongdoin

1.nounC1
Definition

a formal process in which a legislative body brings charges of serious wrongdoing against a high-ranking public official while in office, which may lead to a trial and possible removal from the position

Example

Governor Hassan faced impeachment after a report found he had used public money for personal travel.

face impeachment (common collocation)

The national assembly began impeachment proceedings against Minister Samir for accepting illegal payments.

impeachment proceedings (common collocation)

Common collocations
  • face impeachment
  • impeachment proceedings
  • impeachment trial
  • impeachment inquiry
  • articles of impeachment
  • call for impeachment
  • impeachment process
  • impeachment hearing
Synonyms
  • indictment

    Used in criminal law for any person; impeachment is specific to public officials and is a political rather than criminal process

  • arraignment

    A court appearance to answer criminal charges, not a legislative process against an official

Usage Note

Impeachment is only the formal accusation stage, not the conviction or removal that may follow. In the US system, the House of Representatives impeaches and the Senate holds the trial. Frequently used in political news reporting.

Common Mistakes

The president was impeached and removed from office in one day.
The president was impeached by the House of Representatives, and later removed from office after a Senate trial.
Impeachment is only the formal accusation; removal requires a separate trial and conviction.

Word family

  • impeach
    verbB2
  • impeachable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Impeachment, indictment, and arraignment all refer to formal accusations, but they apply in different settings. Impeachment is a political process carried out by a legislature against a public official — it does not involve criminal courts. Indictment is a formal criminal charge issued by a grand jury, leading to a criminal trial in court. Arraignment is the court hearing where the accused person hears the charges and enters a plea. Use impeachment for government officials facing political accountability, indictment for someone formally charged with a crime, and arraignment for the specific court event after an indictment.

indictment ↗arraignment ↗impeachment ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • call for impeachment
  • impeachment proceedings
  • articles of impeachment
  • impeachment inquiry

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From French 'empêchement' (hindrance, obstacle), derived from Old French 'empeechier' (to impede). The word entered English legal usage in the 14th century, shifting from the meaning of 'hindering' to the specific parliamentary procedure of charging royal officials with misconduct. The modern political sense developed in medieval England and was adopted into US constitutional law.