Definition. At the end of a criminal trial, a finding by a judge or jury that a defendant is not guilty. An acquittal signifies that a prosecutor failed to prove his or her case beyond a reasonable doubt, not that a defendant is innocent.

Is an acquittal the same as not guilty?

"Not guilty" and "acquittal" are synonymous. ... In other words, to find a defendant not guilty is to acquit. At trial, an acquittal occurs when the jury (or the judge if it's a judge trial) determines that the prosecution hasn't proved the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

What is the full meaning of acquittal?

Acquittal is a formal declaration in a court of law that someone who has been accused of a crime is innocent. ... The trial resulted in acquittals on all but one count.