To indict someone means to formally accuse them of a serious crime. When a grand jury indicts a person, they're saying there's enough evidence to bring that person to trial. It's pronounced “in-DITE,” even though it looks like it should rhyme with “predict.”

Indicting someone is a formal legal step that happens before a trial. Imagine if someone was accused of robbing a bank: first, investigators would gather evidence. Then a grand jury (a group of ordinary citizens) would review that evidence. If they believe there's a good case, they indict the person, which means criminal charges are officially filed and the case moves forward.

An indictment (the noun form) is the formal document listing the charges. Being indicted doesn't mean someone is guilty; that's what the trial determines. It means the evidence is strong enough that the case deserves a full hearing in court.

You might hear news reports saying a politician or business leader was indicted for corruption, or that a grand jury indicted someone for a major crime. The legal system treats indictment as an important protection: it ensures that before someone faces a serious trial, a group of citizens has reviewed the evidence and agreed it's worth pursuing.