attainder

noun

at·​tain·​der ə-ˈtān-dər 

1

: extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person upon sentence of death or outlawry usually after a conviction of treason

2

obsolete : dishonor

Examples of attainder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cromwell was declared guilty of treason by an act of attainder and so followed his own victims to the block. —Allan Massie, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English attaynder, from Anglo-French ateindre conviction, from infinitive of ateindre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing attainder

• bill of attainder

Kids Definition

attainder

noun

at·​tain·​der ə-ˈtān-dər 

: the taking away of a person's civil rights when that person has been declared an outlaw or sentenced to death

Legal Definition

attainder

noun

at·​tain·​der ə-ˈtān-dər 

: the termination of the civil rights of a person upon a sentence of death or outlawry for treason or a felony see also bill of attainder at bill sense 1, corruption of blood

Note: In English law up to the nineteenth century, attainder was the harsh consequence of conviction for treason or a felony. It resulted in the forfeiture of the convicted person's property. It also involved corruption of blood, which barred the person from inheriting, retaining, or passing title, rank, or property. A person outlawed lost the right to seek protection under the law. Article III, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution prohibits corruption of blood or forfeiture upon a conviction for treason “except during the life of the person attainted,” and Article I, Section 9 prohibits bills of attainder. Attainder was abolished in England in 1870.

Etymology

Anglo-French atteinder, from ateindre to convict, sentence, literally, to reach, attain, ultimately from Latin attingere to reach, from ad to + tangere to touch