Word: Not Guilty
Definition:
"Not guilty" is an adjective used to describe someone who has been found legally innocent of a crime or offense. When a person is declared "not guilty," it means that there is not enough evidence to prove that they committed the crime, or they are proven innocent.
Usage Instructions:
You typically use "not guilty" in legal contexts, such as during a trial or when discussing legal matters. It is often used when talking about the decisions made by a jury or a judge.
Examples:
1. After the trial, the jury concluded that he was not guilty of the charges against him. 2. She was found not guilty by the court and was relieved to hear the verdict.
Advanced Usage:
- In some cases, a person may be found "not guilty by reason of insanity," which means they committed the act but were not responsible for it due to mental illness. - The phrase can also be used metaphorically in everyday conversations, such as when someone is blamed for something they didn’t do.
Word Variants:
- Guilt: The state of having committed a crime or offense. - Guilty: The opposite of "not guilty," meaning someone has been found responsible for a crime.
Different Meanings:
While "not guilty" primarily refers to a legal context, in everyday language, it can also imply innocence in a more general sense, such as when someone is accused of a mistake or wrongdoing.
Synonyms:
- Innocent - Acquitted - Exonerated
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "not guilty," but you might hear phrases like "presumed innocent until proven guilty," which emphasizes that a person is considered innocent until evidence shows otherwise.
Summary:
"Not guilty" is an important term in the legal system, indicating that someone has been found innocent of a crime.