Not Guilty

Pronunciation: /nɑt ˈɡɪlti/

Definitions of not guilty

adjective describing the state of being free of guilt or responsibility

Example Sentences

A1 He was not guilty of the crime.

A2 The defendant pleaded not guilty in court.

B1 The jury found the defendant not guilty of all charges.

B2 The evidence presented in court proved the defendant's not guilty plea.

C1 The not guilty verdict was a relief for the accused and their family.

C2 The defense attorney's strong case led to the defendant being found not guilty.

Examples of not guilty in a Sentence

formal After a thorough investigation, the jury found the defendant not guilty of the charges.

informal The cops arrested him but he was not guilty so they had to let him go.

slang He totally got off the hook because he was not guilty of the crime.

figurative Her conscience was clear, she felt not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Grammatical Forms of not guilty

• past tense: was not guilty
• plural: not guilties
• comparative: less guilty
• superlative: least guilty
• present tense: is not guilty
• future tense: will not be guilty
• perfect tense: has not been guilty
• continuous tense: is not being guilty
• singular: not guilty
• positive degree: guilty
• infinitive: to not be guilty
• gerund: not guilting
• participle: not guilty

Origin and Evolution of not guilty

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'not guilty' originated from the English language, specifically from the legal system.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in legal contexts to denote a plea or verdict of innocence, the term 'not guilty' has retained its primary meaning over the centuries. However, its usage has expanded beyond the legal realm to encompass a broader sense of innocence or lack of culpability in various contexts.