Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
inculpation

inculpation

9.9
Blaming someone for doing something wrong
  • noun
  • /ˌɪn.kəlˈpeɪ.ʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : imputación
  • The lawyer argued that her client's inculpation was based on false evidence.

Examples

  • The scandal led to the quick inculpation of several officials for their misconduct.

  • After a thorough investigation, the inculpation of the suspect was announced by the police.

  • Aucune inculpation.

    Lansky (2021)

  • That is, he based his case on the self-inculpation provided by the artist's "own words," the "truth" that Vernet would have preferred to suppress.

    Academic text (2006)

Synonyms

accusation
vsinculpation
394 3.1

A statement that someone did something wrong or illegal, even if it is not proven

is about being held responsible rather than only being named in a statement
incrimination
vsinculpation
7 7.5

An accusation that someone committed a crime

covers blame for lesser faults and also the state of being held responsible

Antonyms

exoneration
  • Formal
10 7.9

An official clearing of a person from blame after being accused

How Blamed

conviction
  • Formal
282 4.3
indictment
  • Formal
271 7.8
charge
  • Formal
∞ 6.0
inculpation
  • Formal
9.9
accusation
394 3.1
allegation
  • Literature
579 4.8

Surface Forms

inculpation singular
inculpations plural

Morphology

inculpation = inculpate (semi-transparent) = in + culp + ation

The noun is a standard deverbal formation from 'inculpate' using the productive suffix '-ation', so the step from the verb to the noun is predictable.

Etymology

Inculpation comes from the Latin parts in- meaning 'in' and culpa meaning 'fault' or 'blame', so it literally means putting blame into someone. Think of the familiar word culprit, a person at fault, and that helps explain why inculpation means accusing or holding someone responsible.