In the context of law, what does guilty signify?

Guilty signifies being found liable for wrongdoing, which refers to a legal determination made by a judge or jury during a trial. When a defendant is declared guilty, it indicates that the prosecution has successfully proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime they were charged with. This finding results in the imposition of legal consequences, which could include penalties such as fines, imprisonment, or other forms of punishment.

In contrast, the other options represent different legal outcomes. Being suspected of a crime does not carry any legal determination of wrongdoing; it merely indicates that law enforcement believes an individual may have committed an offense. Having charges dismissed refers to a situation where the court has thrown out the case before it reaches trial, meaning no determination of guilt or innocence is made. Lastly, being acquitted of all charges signifies that the defendant has been found not guilty after a trial, which is the opposite of being found guilty. Thus, the correct interpretation of "guilty" within the legal context is indeed indicative of being found liable for wrongdoing.