- an act or instance of bringing someone before a criminal court to hear an indictment, or formal charge, against them and to enter a plea in response to that charge: At her arraignment Crane pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set for May 21.
- a calling into question or a finding fault, especially with respect to the value or virtue of something; critical examination: In his arraignment of the basic weaknesses in the nation's social fabric, he drew special attention to racism.
