What does acquit mean?
Acquit is a verb meaning to declare someone free from a criminal charge or from blame. Its dominant use is legal: a court or jury acquits a defendant by returning a verdict of not guilty, formally ending the prosecution's claim against them. Beyond the courtroom, acquit can describe clearing anyone of guilt or responsibility, whether moral, professional, or personal. It also carries a distinctive reflexive idiom — 'to acquit oneself' — meaning to behave or perform in a certain way, especially under pressure: soldiers may acquit themselves bravely, students acquit themselves creditably. The word is formal in register and appears most often in news reporting on trials, legal writing, and elevated prose. Its antonyms include convict and condemn. Derived forms such as acquittal (the formal act or judgment) are common in legal language. Understanding acquit is valuable both for following legal affairs and for appreciating its elegant figurative uses.
To clear someone of a criminal charge or of blame, guilt, or responsibility.
"The appeals court acquitted him of fraud after new evidence emerged."
In legal usage, acquittal is pronounced by judge or jury; figurative uses extend to any release from blame.
(Reflexive) To conduct or bear oneself in a specified manner, especially under testing conditions.
"She acquitted herself admirably during the cross-examination."
Acquit comes from the same Latin root as 'quit' — so when a jury acquits you, it literally lets you quit your legal troubles.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acquit
Acquit entered English in the Middle Ages via Old French 'aquiter', derived from the Late Latin 'acquietare', formed from Latin 'ad-' ('to') plus 'quietare' ('to set at rest'), itself from 'quies' ('rest'). The underlying idea was to settle or discharge a debt or obligation, which is why early senses involved paying what one owed. Over time the notion of discharging an obligation broadened into discharging a person from blame or legal liability. It shares this root with 'quit', 'requite', and 'quietus', all tracing back to the same Latin source.
Related word forms
How acquit is actually used
Acquit is largely formal and most at home in legal contexts. The reflexive sense — 'acquit oneself' (well, badly, honorably) — is an established idiom meaning to perform or behave in a particular way, often under pressure. In everyday speech it is less common than 'clear' or 'let off'.
Easily confused with acquit
Acquit declares someone not guilty and free of blame, while convict finds them guilty of the charge.