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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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impute was our Word of the Day on 11/23/2016. Hear the podcast!
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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
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Our reporters are very careful about imputing motives to people that go beyond the evidence.
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The FBI also points to evidence of Russian responsibility, but remains much more cautious about imputing motive or intent.
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To impute such sage maturity to one’s juniors may be the ultimate version of fantasy football.
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The fallback explanation imputes genes, which is probably roughly accurate.
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.
Did You Know?
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
Synonym Discussion of impute
IMPUTE Defined for English Language Learners
impute
playDefinition of impute for English Language Learners
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: to say or suggest that someone or something has or is guilty of (something)
Law Dictionary
impute
playLegal 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
Learn More about impute
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impute Spanish Central: Translation of impute Nglish: Translation of impute for Spanish speakers
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