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Summons vs Indictment - What's the difference?

summons | indictment |

In lang=en terms the difference between summons and indictment

is that summons is a notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness while indictment is the official legal document outlining the charges concerned.

As nouns the difference between summons and indictment

is that summons is a call to do something, especially to come while indictment is an official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.

As a verb summons

is to serve someone with a summons.

summons

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) sumunce (modern French semonce), from popular (etyl) .

Noun

(es)
  • A call to do something, especially to come.
  • * Hallam
  • special summonses by the king
  • * Bishop Fell
  • this summons unfit either to dispute or disobey
  • * Sir J. Hayward
  • He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded.
  • (legal) A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.
  • (military) A demand for surrender.
  • Verb

    (es)
  • To serve someone with a summons.
  • * 2007', It proposes that those held in the prototype Selfridges cells be kept for a maximum of four hours to have their identity confirmed and be charged, '''summonsed or given a fine. — ''The Guardian , 15 Mar 2007, p. 1
  • See also

    * ("summons" on Wikipedia) *

    Etymology 2

    Inflected forms.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (summon)
  • indictment

    Alternative forms

    * endictment

    Noun

  • (legal) An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.
  • (legal) The official legal document outlining the charges concerned.
  • (countable, uncountable) An accusation of wrongdoing; a criticism or condemnation.
  • See also

    * grand jury * plea, pleading