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Exculpating: meaning, definitions and examples

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exculpating

 

[ ɛksˈkʌlpeɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal context

Exculpating refers to the act of freeing someone from blame or fault. It is often used in legal settings where a defendant seeks to prove their innocence. This can involve presenting evidence that shows they were not responsible for a crime or wrongdoing. Exculpation can also occur in more casual situations, such as when someone tries to clear their name in a misunderstanding with friends or colleagues.

Synonyms

absolve, clear, exonerate, justify, vindicate

Examples of usage

  • The evidence presented ultimately exculpated the accused.
  • She worked hard to exculpate herself from the scandal.
  • Exculpating statements were made during the trial.
  • He was exculpated after new information came to light.

Translations

Translations of the word "exculpating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exculpante

🇮🇳 निर्दोष साबित करना

🇩🇪 entschuldigend

🇮🇩 membebaskan

🇺🇦 виправдовуючий

🇵🇱 uniewinniający

🇯🇵 無罪にする

🇫🇷 exculpant

🇪🇸 exculpante

🇹🇷 aklayan

🇰🇷 무죄를 입증하는

🇸🇦 تبرئة

🇨🇿 omlouvající

🇸🇰 ospravedlňujúci

🇨🇳 免责的

🇸🇮 opravičujejoč

🇮🇸 frelsandi

🇰🇿 ақталушы

🇬🇪 განთავისუფლებელი

🇦🇿 təqsir etməyən

🇲🇽 exculpante

Word origin

The word 'exculpate' originates from the Latin 'exculpare', which means 'to clear from blame'. The prefix 'ex-' means 'out of' or 'from', and 'culpa' translates to 'fault' or 'blame'. The usage of exculpating as a form of the verb dates back to the 15th century, incorporating the roots of responsibility and accountability in social and legal constructs. It has since evolved to signify not only absolving guilt in criminal cases but also in personal and professional contexts, where the need to clear one's name or reputation can arise. By the 19th century, the term was well established in legal jargon, frequently appearing in discussions about evidence and defense strategies.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,352, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.