Impeachment

Alternative forms

• empeachment obsolete

Origin

From Old French empechement. See impeach + -ment.

Noun

1. The act of impeaching a public official, either elected or appointed, before a tribunal charged with determining the facts of the matter
2. the state of being impeached
3. a demonstration in a court of law, or before another finder of fact, that a witness was ingenuine before, and therefore, is less likely to tell the truth now
4. (obsolete) Hindrance; impediment; obstruction.
• ShakespeareWilling to march on to Calais,
  Without impeachment.

Related terms

• impeachability