What does impeachment mean?
Impeachment is the formal process of accusing and trying a public official for serious misconduct, especially dishonesty, corruption, or abuse of power. Its consequences depend on the legal system: in many countries it may lead to removal or disqualification from office, while in the United States the House of Representatives brings the charge and the Senate holds the trial. The word is also used more broadly for the accusation itself, as in calling for a president's impeachment. Because it refers to a serious constitutional or legal action against an officeholder, it carries a strongly political and grave tone. In everyday speech, people sometimes use impeachment loosely to mean any severe criticism or condemnation, but the precise term is reserved for formal proceedings against someone holding public office.
The formal accusation and trial of a public official for serious misconduct, especially corruption or abuse of power.
"The vote authorized an impeachment investigation into the official's conduct."
In the United States, the House of Representatives charges the official and the Senate conducts the trial. The term is chiefly political and constitutional rather than a general synonym for criticism.
The formal process by which a public official is charged and may be removed from or disqualified from office.
"The constitutional crisis continued throughout the impeachment proceedings."
This sense names the procedure as a whole, rather than only the initial accusation.
The plural is used when referring to multiple formal proceedings or accusations.
"Political scandals have led to several impeachments in different countries."
Impeachment is one of democracy's most dramatic checks on power: it transforms political misconduct into a formal national trial.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does impeachment come from?
The word entered English through the verb impeach, meaning to call someone to account or formally accuse them. Impeach comes through Old French from Medieval Latin impedicare, ultimately related to Latin impedire, meaning to hinder or impede. The suffix -ment was added in English to form the noun impeachment, following the ordinary Middle English and later English pattern of creating action or result nouns from verbs.
How impeachment is actually used
The term is strongly associated with political and constitutional procedure. In the United States, it describes a charge by the House of Representatives, while the Senate conducts the trial; calling an ordinary legal accusation an impeachment is generally inaccurate.
Easily confused with impeachment
An indictment is a formal criminal charge that begins proceedings in a court, whereas an impeachment is a political process used to bring charges against a public official and potentially remove the official from office.