Accusatorial

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əˌkju.zəˈtɔɹ.i.əl/

Definitions

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a legal system where prosecutors bear the burden of proving guilt rather than requiring the accused to prove innocence
2. involving or employing methods of formal accusation and adversarial prosecution where the accuser must substantiate charges against a defendant
3. Connected with the practice or nature of formally charging someone with wrongdoing in a legal setting

Etymology: The Latin "accusare" meant "to call to account" or "to blame," and from it came "accusator," a person who brings a charge. The adjective "accusatorius" described that role, and English took it over with the same sense of formal accusation. The English word is built from that Latin adjective plus the suffix "-al," which turns it into a plain English adjective. The notable twist is that the word names a whole system of justice, not just a prosecutor's act. Legal historians use it to contrast two models: an accusatorial system, where a private or public accuser must prove the charge in open contest, and an inquisitorial one, where the court itself investigates. The word therefore marks a choice about who carries the burden of proof, which is the sense the definition gives.

Synonyms: accusatory, blaming

Antonyms: defensive