Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to exculpate

to exculpate

3 9.9
To say officially that someone is not guilty of a crime
  • verb
  • /ˈɛkskəlˌpeɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : exculpar
  • The findings of the investigation may exculpate the accused of any wrongdoing.

So we, we exculpate people for acting out of ignorance.

Examples

  • The lawyer presented new evidence to exculpate her client from all charges.

  • Investigations into motivation do not seek to exculpate, but to provide answers to the question of how antisemitism could be activated and radicalized at a certain moment.

    Academic text (2010)

  • So we, we exculpate people for acting out of ignorance.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • George, would you be so kind and exculpate my hasty actions?

    Chain Reaction (2006)

  • These early revisionists sought to exculpate the Germans for World War II.

    Academic text (2007)

  • None of this is to exculpate Hawthorne for his deep prejudices.

    Academic text (2012)

  • There's not a shred of hard evidence that exculpates him.

    Spirits (1990)

  • Doubters might take a moment to recall that race and gender arguments have been used in some famous recent court cases to exculpate the violent deeds of the accused.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Forgiveness responds to contrition; it neither ignores the wrong nor exculpates the perpetrator.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Morrison neither exculpates Macon nor depicts Ruth as simply a masochist seeking suffering.

    Academic text (1997)

Synonyms

to exonerate
vsto exculpate
  • Formal
129 8.2

To say officially that someone is not guilty of a crime

focuses on clearing criminal charges and public blame
to absolve
vsto exculpate
  • Formal
50 7.2

Make someone officially free from blame, guilt, or responsibility

is narrower limited to formal clearing of criminal charges
to acquit
vsto exculpate
28 7.4

To say in court that someone is not guilty

is the same declaration but not limited to court decisions
to discharge
vsto exculpate
  • Formal
5 7.2

Officially say that someone is not guilty of a crime

is the general official declaration of no criminal guilt
to assoil
vsto exculpate
  • Archaic
9.9

To say someone is not guilty of a crime

is the modern official declaration without archaic tone

Antonyms

to convict
  • Formal
921 4.0

Find someone guilty of a crime in a court

How Cleared

to exonerate
  • Formal
129 8.2
to acquit
28 7.4
to exculpate
  • Formal
3 9.9
to vindicate
54 8.6
clear
257 3.8

Surface Forms

exculpate infinitive
exculpated past
exculpated past participle
exculpating present participle
exculpates third person singular

Morphology

exculpate = culpate (semi-transparent) = ex + culp + ate

Formally analyzable as ex- + culp + -ate, but the root 'culp' is not a standalone common English word and 'culpate' is infrequent, so the derivation is only partly accessible to average learners.

Etymology

Exculpate comes from the Latin parts ex- meaning 'out' and culpa meaning 'fault' or 'blame', and it shares its root with the familiar word culprit. So, to exculpate someone is to 'take the blame out' and officially say they are not guilty.