exculpate

verb

ex·​cul·​pate ˈek-(ˌ)skəl-ˌpāt  (ˌ)ek-ˈskəl- 

exculpated; exculpating

transitive verb

: to clear from alleged fault or guilt

exculpation

ˌek-(ˌ)skəl-ˈpā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Exculpate is the joining of the prefix ex-, meaning "not," and the Latin noun culpa, meaning "blame." Readers may be familiar with the Latin phrase mea culpa, which translates directly as "through my fault" and is used in English to mean "a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error."

Synonyms

• absolve
• acquit
• clear
• exonerate
• vindicate

Choose the Right Synonym for exculpate

exculpate, absolve, exonerate, acquit, vindicate mean to free from a charge.

exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

absolve implies a release either from an obligation that binds the conscience or from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin.

cannot be absolved of blame

exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

exonerated by the investigation

acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

voted to acquit the defendant

vindicate may refer to things as well as persons that have been subjected to critical attack or imputation of guilt, weakness, or folly, and implies a clearing effected by proving the unfairness of such criticism or blame.

her judgment was vindicated

Examples of exculpate in a Sentence

The court exculpated him after a thorough investigation.

I will present evidence that will exculpate my client.

Recent Examples on the Web

The results of that closer analysis is what were released Monday — and still ultimately exculpated Cline. —Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023

Now that Barry has accepted the death of his mother (Maribel Verdú) and successfully exculpated his father (Ron Livingston), the arc that has defined him on screen so far is resolved. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 June 2023

The justices could also require that prosecutors show that the defendant acted with criminal intent, which could also exculpate certain edge cases. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2023

Examining Suzanne Morphew's body could either incriminate or exculpate her husband, prosecutors said. —Erielle Reshef, ABC News, 15 May 2023

The effort to exculpate and vindicate him relies on misdirection and blame-shifting and is thoroughly unconvincing. —Rich Lowry, National Review, 13 Nov. 2022

The justices heard oral arguments on Tuesday morning in one case that could determine whether a death-row prisoner gets a chance to potentially exculpate himself through DNA testing. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2022

To accede to the idea that whiteness can be lost, albeit in the name of open-endedness and open-mindedness, is to exculpate the capitalist imperialism that invented race in the first place. —Namwali Serpell, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2022

Prosecutors said examining Suzanne Morphew's body could incriminate or exculpate her husband. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 6 May 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin exculpatus, past participle of exculpare, from Latin ex- + culpa blame

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

exculpate

verb

ex·​cul·​pate ˈek-(ˌ)skəl-ˌpāt  ek-ˈskəl- 

exculpated; exculpating

: to clear from a charge of fault or guilt

exculpation

ˌek-(ˌ)skəl-ˈpā-shən 

noun

exculpatory

ek-ˈskəl-pə-ˌtōr-ē

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

Legal Definition

exculpate

transitive verb

ex·​cul·​pate ˈek-skəl-ˌpāt, ek-ˈskəl- 

exculpated; exculpating

: to clear from alleged fault or guilt

as time passed, however, the…rule, which barred the admission of other persons' confessions that exculpated the accused, became the subject of increasing criticism

—Lilly v. Virginia, 527 U.S. 116 (1999)

compare acquit, exonerate

exculpation

ˌek-skəl-ˈpā-shən 

noun

Etymology

Medieval Latin exculpare, from Latin ex- out of + culpa blame