Words / C1

im-PEECH/ɪmˈpiːtʃ/

To impeach is to charge a public official with a serious offence, or to call someone’s honesty or a finding into question: impeach a minister, impeach a witness’s credibility. Accuse is everyday and wider. A sad caption does not impeach a signed occupancy certificate.

Meaning

To charge a public official with a serious offence; also to challenge the honesty of a witness.

Examples

• “Do not impeach the night cohort’s “motivation” without the rota in the annex.”
• “You do not impeach a signed occupancy certificate with a sad caption.”
• “Accuse is everyday. Challenge is milder. A caption is colour. A signature and a figure are a file. Open the file; archive the caption.”

Good to know

Charge an official, or call honesty/findings into doubt. Everyday: accuse. A caption ≠ a certificate.

Near in meaning

accuse, challenge

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