impute

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verb im·pute \ im-ˈpyüt \

Definition of impute

imputed; imputing

transitive verb

1 :to lay the responsibility or blame for often falsely or unjustly

2 :to credit to a person or a cause :attribute

our vices as well as our virtues have been imputed to bodily derangement
—B. N. Cardozo

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imputability

play \im-ˌpyü-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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imputable

play \im-ˈpyü-tə-bəl\ adjective

See impute defined for English-language learners

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impute was our Word of the Day on 11/23/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of impute in a Sentence

people often impute his silence to unfriendliness and not to the shyness it really represents

Recent Examples of impute from the Web

Our reporters are very careful about imputing motives to people that go beyond the evidence.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "The Wall Street Journal's Editor: Beware Calling Donald Trump a Liar," 28 June 2017
The FBI also points to evidence of Russian responsibility, but remains much more cautious about imputing motive or intent.

— editors, The Atlantic, "Trump: 'I'm, Like, a Smart Person'," 23 Dec. 2016
To impute such sage maturity to one’s juniors may be the ultimate version of fantasy football.

— sarah larson, The New Yorker, "Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, and Football Between Fathers and Sons," 5 Jan. 2016
The fallback explanation imputes genes, which is probably roughly accurate.

— brandon keim, WIRED, "Book Excerpt: An Epidemic of Absence," 31 Aug. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Put the Valuable impute Into Your Vocabulary

Impute is a somewhat formal word that is used to suggest that someone or something has done or is guilty of something. It is similar in meaning to such words as ascribe and attribute, though it is more likely to suggest an association with something that brings discredit. When we impute something, we typically impute it to someone or something. You may also encounter the related noun imputation, which appears in such contexts as "I deny all your imputations of blame." Another sense of impute means "to calculate as a value or cost (as for taxation)," as in "impute a benefit from the use of the car."

Origin and Etymology of impute

Middle English, from Anglo-French imputer, from Latin imputare, from in- + putare to consider

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First Known Use: 14th century

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impute Synonyms

Synonyms

accredit, ascribe, attribute, chalk up, credit, lay, put down

Related Words

blame, charge, father (on), impute (to), pin (on); assign, refer; associate, attach, connect, link

Synonym Discussion of impute

ascribe, attribute, assign, impute, credit mean to lay something to the account of a person or thing. ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship.

- forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe, less definiteness than assign.

- attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.

- assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame.

- tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation.

- credited his teammates for his success

IMPUTE Defined for English Language Learners

impute

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verb

Definition of impute for English Language Learners

: to say or suggest that someone or something has or is guilty of (something)

Law Dictionary

impute

play

transitive verb im·pute \ im-ˈpyüt \

legal Definition of impute

imputed; imputing

1 :to consider or calculate as a value or cost (as for taxation); broadly :to reckon as an actual thing

impute a benefit from the use of the car

2 in the civil law of Louisiana :to direct (payment) to principal or interest

3 :to attribute to a party especially because of responsibility for another

impute knowledge to his corporate superior

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imputation

play \ˌim-pyə-ˈtā-shən\ noun

Learn More about impute

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impute Spanish Central: Translation of impute Nglish: Translation of impute for Spanish speakers

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impute

Definition of impute

imputability

imputable

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impute was our Word of the Day on 11/23/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of impute in a Sentence

Recent Examples of impute from the Web

Put the Valuable impute Into Your Vocabulary

Origin and Etymology of impute

impute Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of impute

IMPUTE Defined for English Language Learners

impute

Definition of impute for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

impute

legal Definition of impute

imputation

Learn More about impute

Seen and Heard

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