not guilty
305
3.2
- adjective
- Formal
- After reviewing the evidence, the jury declared the defendant not guilty of all charges.
- a not guilty verdict
- found not guilty
- pleaded not guilty
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Watch on YouTubeIn these trials, you were acquitted, found not guilty and not liable.
- In these trials, you were acquitted, found not guilty and not liable.
- For example, I thought Donald Trump was going to be found not guilty, so I was wrong.
- Look at that as if on cue, not guilty.
- And a big reason that they found him not guilty.
- Like, you know, they come back and give them not guilty.
- The jury came back and they found Dad not guilty.
- If none of them exist, then that person is not guilty.
- But you know what they might, who knows, they might bust the case, might be found not guilty.
- You get nicked for them shootings that you're either getting not guilty or you're going away forever.
- The defence barrister wants to quit, wants to get an acquittal and not guilty.
Examples
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In light of all the evidence and testimony we've heard, we find the defendant not guilty.
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After the jury's verdict of "not guilty," Thompson was technically free.
Academic text (2016) -
And just saying this guy has been found not guilty, it's been thrown out.
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The vital decision, guilty or not guilty, is made by the people or those who represent the people.
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I find the defendant not guilty.
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We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty.
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Four of the white defendants were found not guilty, while the other three cases were dismissed.
Academic text (1994) -
When that defendant is found not guilty, there is no appeal, so no precedent is set.
Academic text (1995) -
We, the jury, find the defendant, Henri Young, not guilty of murder in the first degree.
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May, June, July, August, September, October: A Los Angeles jury finds O.J. Simpson not guilty of murder charges.
Academic text (2009)
Synonyms
Antonyms
How Innocent
- Formal
1
8.1
17
3.6
6
6.9
86
1.0
- Formal
305
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is a straightforward negation of the adjective 'guilty' by 'not', so the phrase literally conveys 'not deserving blame / did not commit the offense'. This compositional pattern (not + adjective) is cross-linguistically common and matches the legal sense, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase not guilty comes from a courtroom, where a judge or jury says a person is not guilty, so they are not to be blamed. That's why it means 'legally judged to have not committed the crime'.