German word

freisprechen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfʁaɪ̯ˌʃpʁɛçən/

Meaning

  • verbacquit

Example

Der Richter spricht den Angeklagten frei.

The judge finds the defendant not guilty.

Illustration for freisprechen (acquit)

More examples

Das Berufungsgericht sprach die Angeklagte frei, nachdem neue Zweifel an der Beweislage aufgekommen waren.

The appellate court acquitted the defendant after new doubts about the evidence arose.

Core concept

A judge releases the accused from legal blame with a verdict of not guilty.

Common phrases

  • spricht den Angeklagten frei

    acquits the defendant

Similar words

entlasten: Support someone's innocence by weakening the suspicion against them.
freilassen: Return someone to freedom after arrest or detention.
einstellen: Stop the prosecution and bring the case to an end.

Definition in German

jemanden durch richterliche Entscheidung als nicht schuldig erklären

Word origin

Freisprechen combines frei, meaning free, with sprechen, meaning speak, and developed the legal sense of declaring someone free from guilt.

Usage tips

  • Freisprechen is separable: Der Richter spricht den Angeklagten frei, but the participle is freigesprochen.

Other meanings

  • absolveverb

Opposites

  • schuldig sprechenfind guiltyverb
  • verurteilensentenceverb

Related words

Word lists with this word