adjudged guilty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adjudged guilty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that a person has been formally found guilty of a crime by a judge or jury. Example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant was adjudged guilty of all charges and sentenced to five years in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Adjudged guilty and sent to jail.

The New Yorker

After a hearing petitioner was adjudged guilty of contempt.

Cornell University

Consequently, roughly 500,000 pre-trial detainees sit in jail year after year before being adjudged guilty of any crime.

The Guardian - Opinion

Petitioners were adjudged guilty of contempt—Pendergast and O'Malley being sentenced to two years' imprisonment and McCormack being sentenced to probation for two years.

Cornell University

prescribe prices at which he might sell pure milk, lawfully held, he was adjudged guilty and ordered to pay a fine.

Harvard University

The Daily Telegraph has been adjudged guilty of breaching the editors' code of practice for the seventh time since the formation of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The trial court overruled this motion, adjudged defendant guilty, and imposed fine and imprisonment.

Cornell University

Upon this presentment, the court adjudged Brown guilty of contempt and sentenced him to imprisonment for 30 days.

Cornell University

When democracy's enemies have been judged guilty of a crime as horrible as that of which the Rosenbergs were convicted: when the legal processes of democracy have been marshalled to their maximum strength to protect the lives of convicted spies: when in their most solemn judgement the tribunals of the United States has adjudged them guilty and the sentence just.

The Guardian

The last time a five-run penalty was issued for ball tampering was during the 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan, when the tourists were adjudged the guilty party.

BBC

The flanker was adjudged the guilty party as he was sin-binned and the first half ended with Jackson and Madigan swapping penalties as Leinster led 9-8 athehe break.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "adjudged guilty" in formal writing, especially when referring to legal proceedings or judgments. This phrase is best suited for contexts where precision and formality are required.

Common error

Avoid using "adjudged guilty" interchangeably with phrases like "suspected of" or "accused of". "Adjudged guilty" indicates a formal legal determination, whereas the others suggest mere suspicion or accusation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adjudged guilty" primarily functions as a predicate adjective within legal and formal contexts. It describes the state of being guilty after a formal judgment has been made. As Ludwig AI points out, this is a formal legal term.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

40%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adjudged guilty" is a formal term primarily used in legal and news contexts to denote that someone has been officially declared guilty following a trial or legal proceeding. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and typical usage. The phrase appears frequently in news articles and academic papers, reflecting its formal register. While alternatives like "found guilty" or "convicted of" exist, "adjudged guilty" carries a stronger sense of legal formality. Therefore, it is crucial to reserve its usage for situations demanding precision and formality, ensuring that it is not mistaken for phrases implying mere suspicion. It is also very important to consider the multiple alternative options that can be utilized according to the needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

found guilty

Replaces "adjudged" with the more common synonym "found", simplifying the phrase.

declared guilty

Substitutes "adjudged" with "declared", offering a slightly more formal alternative.

convicted of

Uses a different verb to indicate the outcome of a trial, focusing on the conviction itself.

ruled guilty

Emphasizes the judge's decision in the trial.

determined to be guilty

Adds emphasis on the process of determining guilt.

held responsible

Focuses on accountability and responsibility for the crime.

pronounced guilty

Highlights the formal announcement of the verdict.

judged to be guilty

Rephrases using a more descriptive verb phrase.

verdict of guilty

Focuses on the decision of the jury.

liable

This is a more general term that can be used when the context is clear.

FAQs

What does "adjudged guilty" mean?

"Adjudged guilty" means that a person has been formally and legally declared guilty of a crime after a trial or legal proceeding.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "adjudged guilty"?

It's appropriate to use "adjudged guilty" in formal contexts, such as legal documents, news reports about court cases, and academic discussions of law. You might prefer using a less formal phrase like "found guilty" in casual conversation.

What are some alternatives to "adjudged guilty"?

Alternatives include "convicted of", "declared guilty", or "ruled guilty". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is "adjudged guilty" the same as "found guilty"?

While similar, "adjudged guilty" is generally considered more formal and legalistic than "found guilty". Both phrases indicate a determination of guilt, but "adjudged" carries a more pronounced sense of legal judgment.