was acquitted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was acquitted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a legal context to indicate that someone has been found not guilty of a crime by a judge or jury. Example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant was acquitted of all charges, allowing him to return to his family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

King was acquitted.

Stanford University

He was acquitted.

Yale University

Cimon was acquitted.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Judge Peck was acquitted.

Cornell University

Mr. Hill was acquitted.

The New York Times

One teacher was acquitted.

The Economist

Mrs. Bennett was acquitted.

The New Yorker

The murderess was acquitted.

The New Yorker

The daughter was acquitted.

The New York Times

The newspaper was acquitted.

The New York Times

Mrs. C. was acquitted.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was acquitted" when you want to clearly and concisely state that someone has been found not guilty in a legal proceeding.

Common error

Avoid using "was acquitted" loosely. This term specifically applies to legal contexts where a formal judgment of not guilty has been rendered. Do not use it simply to mean someone was found to be right or justified in a general sense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was acquitted" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that someone has been formally declared not guilty of a crime in a court of law. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is commonly used to report the outcome of legal proceedings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

27%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was acquitted" is a passive voice phrase used to indicate that someone has been found not guilty in a legal trial. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in both news and academic contexts. When writing, ensure its application is strictly within legal contexts, and consider alternatives like "was found not guilty" or "was exonerated" for nuanced meanings. Its frequent use in authoritative sources reinforces its reliability and clarity in conveying legal outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was found not guilty

Replaces "acquitted" with a more explicit description of the legal outcome.

was cleared of charges

Focuses on the removal of accusations against the individual.

was exonerated

Emphasizes the removal of blame or responsibility.

was absolved

Suggests a formal or official forgiveness.

was vindicated

Highlights the confirmation of the person's innocence after doubt.

had the charges dropped

Indicates the prosecution ceased pursuing the case.

was released

Focuses on the individual's freedom after legal proceedings.

walked free

Informal way to describe release from custody after a trial.

was discharged

Formal term for being released from a legal obligation or duty.

got off

Colloquial term for avoiding conviction or punishment.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "was acquitted"?

When someone "was acquitted", it means they were found not guilty of the crime they were accused of in a court of law. The legal proceedings determined that there was insufficient evidence to convict them.

How do I use "was acquitted" in a sentence?

You can use "was acquitted" to report the outcome of a trial. For example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant "was acquitted" of all charges."

What can I say instead of "was acquitted"?

Alternatives to "was acquitted" include "was found not guilty", "was cleared of charges", or "was exonerated", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "was acquitted" and "was exonerated"?

"Was acquitted" specifically refers to a legal judgment of not guilty. "Was exonerated" /s/was+exonerated implies that the person was not only found not guilty but also cleared of any suspicion or blame, often after new evidence emerges.