1. a court proceeding in which a defendant is formally charged with a crime and enters a plea
Usage: legal

Examples

• The defendant’s arraignment is scheduled for next Tuesday.
• During the arraignment, she pleaded not guilty to all charges.
• The judge set bail at $50,000 following the arraignment.
• His lawyer advised him to remain silent until the arraignment.
• The arraignment lasted only fifteen minutes.
• Media coverage of the arraignment was extensive.
• She was released on her own recognizance after the arraignment.