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Glite Dictionary
⚖️ To address a court 🎤 To speak formally
to allocute

to allocute

1 9.9
To make a formal statement to a judge by the person on trial before sentencing
  • verb
  • /ˈæl.ə.kjuːt/
  • Formal
translation icon : declarar
  • Seventh Circuit reverses sentence based on the right to allocute.

Examples

  • He confessed, and he's scheduled to allocute at the end of the week.

    Tyrannosaurus Azteca (2007)

  • Before sentencing, the defendant chose to allocute and explain his actions to the judge.

  • We keep the Ashfords under wraps until after he allocutes.

    Tyrannosaurus Azteca (2007)

  • During the court hearing, the lawyer reminded the client to allocute if he wished to speak about the case.

  • The judge listened attentively as the defendant began to allocute regarding the circumstances of the crime.

Synonyms

to testify
vsto allocute
  • Formal
945 5.6

To say officially in court what you saw or know

is addressed specifically to a judge usually before sentencing
to depose
vsto allocute
  • Formal
26 8.0

To give a formal statement while promising to tell the truth

is addressed directly to a judge at sentencing

Antonyms

to keep quiet
90 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

How Formal

to allocute
  • Formal
1 9.9
to address
  • Formal
236 4.4
to speak
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

allocute infinitive
allocuted past
allocuted past participle
allocuting present participle
allocutes third person singular

Etymology

Allocute comes from Latin parts ad- 'to' and loqui 'to speak', the same speaking root as in eloquent. In law, to allocute is to 'speak to' the judge in a formal statement before sentencing.