Cool MateAcquitted vs Not guilty
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Acquitted
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Not guilty
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
| Acquitted | Not guilty | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈkwɪt.ɪd//🇺🇸 //əˈkwɪtəd// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈɡɪlti//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈɡɪlti// |
| Meaning | To be declared not guilty in a court of law. | Not responsible for a crime or wrong action. |
| Example | The jury acquitted the defendant of all charges. | The jury found him not guilty of all charges. |
| Register | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | acquitted of charges, acquitted in court, acquitted by jury | declare not guilty, plead not guilty, verdict of not guilty |
| Antonyms | - | guilty |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'acquit' as the past tense., Using inappropriately in non-legal contexts., Confusing with 'guilty' or 'convicted'. | Confused with 'innocent' as both can imply lack of guilt., Used inappropriately in non-legal contexts., Mispronounced or miswritten as 'not guity'. |
| Usage notes | Used in legal contexts, primarily in formal discussions about court rulings. Avoid in casual conversation. | Commonly used in legal contexts, appropriate in court or serious discussions. Not suitable for casual conversation or humor. |
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Frequently asked questions: Acquitted vs Not guilty
What's the difference between Acquitted and Not guilty?
Acquitted: To be declared not guilty in a court of law. Not guilty: Not responsible for a crime or wrong action.
Can you show an example of each?
Acquitted: The jury acquitted the defendant of all charges. Not guilty: The jury found him not guilty of all charges.
Can I use Acquitted and Not guilty interchangeably?
Not always. Acquitted and Not guilty are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.