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No one will blame you for having questions about the origins of exculpatory. The adjective comes from a combination of the prefix ex-, meaning "out of" or "away from," and the Latin noun culpa, which means "blame" or "guilt." Something exculpatory, then, frees one from accusations. Culpa has given English a number of other words, including the verb exculpate ("to clear from alleged fault or guilt"). The related but lesser-known terms inculpate ("to incriminate") and inculpatory ("incriminating") are antonyms of exculpate and exculpatory. Culpable is a synonym of blameworthy, and mea culpa refers to a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error.
Examples of exculpatory in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exculpatory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1781, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Exculpatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exculpatory. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
Legal Definition
exculpatory
adjectiveMore from Merriam-Webster on exculpatory
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exculpatory
Britannica English: Translation of exculpatory for Arabic Speakers
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