exculpatory
adjective
Did you know?
Exculpatory is the adjectival form of the verb exculpate, meaning “to clear from guilt.” The pair of words cannot be accused of being secretive—their joint etymology reveals all: they are tied to the Medieval Latin verb exculpare, a word that combines the prefix ex-, meaning “out of” or “away from,” with the Latin noun culpa, meaning “blame.” The related but lesser-known terms inculpate (“to incriminate”) and inculpatory (“implying or imputing guilt”) are antonyms of exculpate and exculpatory. A related adjective, culpable, describes someone or something deserving of blame. All of these words are found most often in formal speech and writing, but if you choose to drop them into everyday conversation, your dictionary exculpates you.
Examples of exculpatory in a Sentence
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors are required to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense ahead of trial.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 2 Sep. 2025
An officer at the Gaston County Police Department received an exculpatory statement — but never disclosed it, according to the suit.
—Ryan Oehrli
august 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2025
Other human factors contribute to wrongful imprisonment, and exculpatory DNA is not present in most cases.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exculpatory
Cite this Entry
“Exculpatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exculpatory. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
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exculpatory
adjective
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