noun
arraignment
uh-RAYN-muhnt
noun
1
A court hearing where a defendant is formally told the charges against them and enters a plea.
"His arraignment is scheduled for Monday morning."
"She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment."
How to Use Arraignment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe court appearance where someone officially hears the charges against them and enters a plea.
When to use it
A legal/courtroom term, common in news coverage of criminal cases.
Common pairings
arraignment hearing
scheduled for arraignment
plead at arraignment
Word Forms
arraignments plural
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Etymology
From "arraign" plus the suffix "-ment".