self-incrimination
7
8.7
- noun
- /ˌsɛlf ɪnˈkrɪməˌneɪʃən/
- Formal
:
autoincriminación
- Second, the right against self-incrimination doesn't prevent you from testifying because you might perjure yourself.
- privilege against self-incrimination
- right against self-incrimination
- self-incrimination clause
Examples
-
Discussing the facts of the crime at this point would create constitutional concerns about the defendant's right against self-incrimination, so professionals generally never ask about the crime.
Academic text (2016) -
Trouble was, Temple became a potential target of the investigation and was thus unable to tell her story without risking self-incrimination.
Academic text (2003) -
"I refuse to answer on the grounds of self-incrimination," Jack said.
Fiction book (1999) -
Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination are therefore protected, but silence is not.
Blog text (5) -
I invoke my Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
-
An attorney's help is needed in trying to decide whether to testify at grand jury, or whether to assert the Fifth Amendment self-incrimination privilege during grand jury or deposition testimony.
Academic text (2017) -
During the police interrogation, he chose to remain silent to avoid self-incrimination.
-
The defendant's lawyer warned him that answering the questions could lead to self-incrimination.
-
She decided to invoke her right against self-incrimination during the trial.
Synonyms
335
3.4
A statement admitting you did something wrong, often to the police
117
3.8
A statement where someone says they did something after denying it
Blaming yourself for things you did wrong
Antonyms
How Confessional
Surface Forms
Morphology
self-incrimination = self + incrimination (transparent) = self + incrimination
The meaning follows directly from the compound 'self' + 'incrimination' (i.e., accusing or exposing oneself).
Etymology
Self-incrimination is made from self- ('yourself') and incriminate ('to accuse of a crime'), so it literally means 'accusing yourself'. That's why in law self-incrimination means admitting you did something wrong and risking being charged.