impeach

Definition of impeach

Etymology

French empêcher, hinder, from Latin impedicare, fetter

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːtʃ

Verb

to impeach (third-person singular simple present impeaches, present participle impeaching, simple past and past participle impeached)

1. To hinder.
2. To bring a legal proceeding against a public official, asserting that because he or she committed some offense, he or she should be removed from office.
   
   President Clinton was impeached by the House in November 1999, but since the Senate acquitted him, he was not removed from office.
3. To discredit an individual or group with presumed expertise.

Derived terms

• impeachment