verb
- to accuse beforehand or in advance; to make an accusation against someone before a formal charge or trial
Usage: rare; formal or legal context
Examples
- The media preaccused the defendant before any evidence was presented in court.
- It is unfair to preaccuse someone without hearing their side of the story.
- The investigation was compromised because witnesses had been preaccused of bias.
- Public opinion preaccused the suspect, making a fair trial difficult.