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View synonyms for

impeach

[im-peech]

verb (used with object)

  1. to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.

  2. Chiefly Law.to challenge the credibility of.

    to impeach a witness.

  3. to bring an accusation against.

  4. to call in question; cast an imputation upon.

    to impeach a person's motives.

    Synonyms: , ,
  5. to call to account.



noun

  1. Obsolete.impeachment.

impeach

/ ɪˈ辱ːʃ /

verb

  1. criminal law to bring a charge or accusation against

  2. criminal law to accuse of a crime, esp of treason or some other offence against the state

  3. to charge (a public official) with an offence committed in office

  4. to challenge or question (a person's honesty, integrity, etc)

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • impeacher noun
  • unimpeached adjective
  • ˈ𲹳 noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of impeach1

1350–1400; Middle English empechen, enpeshen < Anglo-French empecher < Late Latin to fetter, trap, equivalent to Latin im- im- 1 + pedic ( a ) a fetter (derivative of ŧ foot ) + -- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of impeach1

C14: from Old French empeechier, from Late Latin to entangle, catch, from Latin im- (in) + pedica a fetter, from ŧ foot
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Yoon was impeached and removed from his post for briefly placing South Korea under martial law in December, citing supposed threats from anti-state forces and North Korea sympathisers.

From

As in the film, McCarthy is represented entirely through projected film clips, echoing the way that Murrow impeached the senator with his own words.

From

Although the bid to impeach Koffa fell short of the two-thirds majority required, the group of 47 lawmakers who had voted for the move unilaterally appointed their own speaker.

From

Musk appears to endorse impeaching Trump while quoting a conspiracy theorist who shared his Epstein files claim about the president.

From

The brief yet disastrous move set off huge protests and ended former president Yoon Suk Yeol's career: impeached and removed from office, he still faces criminal charges for abusing his power.

From

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When To Use

doesimpeach mean?

Impeach means to formally accuse a public official of misconduct committed while in office.The act or process of impeaching or the state of being impeached is called impeachment. An offense that is cause for someone to be impeached can be called an impeachable offense.In the U.S., the word impeach is closely associated with the act of officially bringing charges of misconduct against a sitting president (though other federal officials can be impeached).Impeaching an official is not the same as convicting them or removing them from office—to impeach is simply to formally present charges against them.Under U.S. law (specifically Article I of the Constitution), the House of Representatives has the power to formally accuse federal officials of misconduct by impeaching them. According to the Constitution, an official can be impeached if they are alleged to have committed treason, bribery, or “other high crimes and misdemeanors” (this vague term covers a number of offenses but is the subject of debate).If the House votes to impeach, the Senate then conducts an impeachment trial. In order for the person to be found guilty, two-thirds of the Senate must vote in favor of conviction. If found guilty, the official is removed from office (and may be forbidden from holding political office again, depending on the ruling of the Senate).In a more general legal context, to impeach a witness is to question their credibility.The word impeach can also be used in a more general way meaning to call into question, as in How can you impeach my motives if you don’t know me? It can also mean to challenge or call to account, as in We must impeach such behavior, not condone it. Example: Representatives have said they will impeach the president if he refuses to resign.

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