Words / C1

im-PEECHM-uh-nt/ɪmˈpiːtʃmənt/

Impeachment is the formal process of charging a public official, or the act of calling credibility into question: articles of impeachment, impeachment of a finding. Charge is everyday. A foyer petition is not a committee minute.

Meaning

The process of charging a public official with a serious offence.

Examples

• “Impeachment is a legal file; a foyer chant is not a charge sheet.”
• “A foyer petition is not an impeachment minute.”
• “Indictment is the criminal cousin. Accusation is everyday. A petition is comms. A numbered paper before a committee is process. Lodge the paper; hang the petition if you still want the queue.”

Good to know

Formal charging of an official (also: attacking credibility). Everyday: accusation. A petition ≠ a minute.

Near in meaning

indictment, accusation

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