acusado

Acusado is a Spanish noun and adjective meaning the person who has been accused of a crime in a judicial proceeding. The term can be used in its masculine form "acusado" or feminine form "acusada," and it derives from Latin accusatus, meaning summoned or charged. In everyday language, it may also describe someone accused of wrongdoing, regardless of formal procedure.

In criminal procedure, the accused is the party against whom a complaint, accusation, or charge has been filed. The case proceeds toward a trial, and the accused is typically entitled to rights such as the presumption of innocence, to a defense, to be informed of the charges, to legal counsel, to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses, and to appeal a verdict. The exact status and terminology can vary by jurisdiction. In some countries, distinctions exist between stages of investigation and formal accusation; terms like investigado or imputado may be used before an accusation is formally filed, with acusado entering use once the case reaches the accusation stage.

Across Spanish-speaking jurisdictions, the term is widely used in official texts and media to identify the party facing charges, without implying guilt. In non-legal usage, acusado can appear in everyday language and literary contexts to refer to someone who has been accused of a wrongdoing.

See also: acusación, imputado, investigación judicial, debido proceso.