Fifth Amendment


noun

an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, providing chiefly that no person be required to testify against himself or herself in a criminal case and that no person be subjected to a second trial for an offense for which he or she has been duly tried previously.

British Dictionary definitions for fifth amendment

Fifth Amendment

noun

an amendment to the US Constitution stating that no person may be compelled to testify against himself and that no person may be tried for a second time on a charge for which he has already been acquitted
take the fifth or take the fifth amendment US to refuse to answer a question on the grounds that it might incriminate oneself

Cultural definitions for fifth amendment

Fifth Amendment

One of the ten amendments to the United States Constitution that make up the Bill of Rights. The Fifth Amendment imposes restrictions on the government's prosecution of persons accused of crimes. It prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy and mandates due process of law.

notes for Fifth Amendment

To “take the Fifth” is to refuse to testify because the testimony could lead to self-incrimination.