implicate

verb

im·​pli·​cate ˈim-plə-ˌkāt 

implicated; implicating

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring into intimate or incriminating connection

evidence that implicates him in the bombing

b

: to involve in the nature or operation of something

Scientists have discovered a gene that is implicated in the disease.

2

: to involve as a consequence, corollary, or natural inference : imply

Firing a government employee because of her protest implicates the First Amendment.

3

archaic : to fold or twist together : entwine

Synonyms of implicate

• weave
• intertwine
• twist
• entwine

Examples of implicate in a Sentence

His business partner was implicated in the theft.

the implicated vines did form a most restful garden bower

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the police, the group operates in the departments of Magdalena — where Santa Marta is located — La Guajira, and Cesar, and has been implicated in crimes such as drug trafficking and extortion. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

And finally, if person A utters a needlessly wordy or detailed expression that is technically synonymous with a single term, person B may take A to implicate that the term does not apply to the person or event under discussion. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Ironically, while Lula is not directly implicated in the scandal and Flávio Bolsonaro very much is, the incumbent seems to be the one paying a political price for one of the largest financial scandals in Brazilian history. — Andre Pagliarini, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Fixing execution means changing how decisions get made, who owns what and what happens when someone misses, which is slower, less interesting and implicates people by name. — Ken Paskins, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English implicaten "to convey (a truth) in a fable," borrowed from Latin implicātus, past participle of implicāre "to fold about itself, entwine, entangle, involve, embroil" (Medieval Latin also, "to imply, mean by implication"), from im- im- + plicāre "to fold, bend" — more at ply entry 3

Note: See also imply, employ entry 1.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for implicate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

implicate

verb

im·​pli·​cate ˈim-plə-ˌkāt 

implicated; implicating

: to show to be connected or involved

evidence that implicates him in the robbery

Legal Definition

implicate

transitive verb

im·​pli·​cate ˈim-plə-ˌkāt 

implicated; implicating

1

: to involve as a consequence, corollary, or natural inference

firing the federal employee because of her protest implicates the First Amendment

2

: to connect to a crime