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Exonerating: meaning, definitions and examples

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exonerating

 

[ ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal context

Exonerating refers to the act of declaring someone free from blame or fault, especially in a legal context. This term is often used when a person who has been accused of a crime is found innocent or when evidence emerges that proves their innocence. In many cases, exoneration can involve the reversal of a conviction or the clearing of charges. It is a significant event that can restore an individual's reputation and allow them to reintegrate into society after having faced unjust accusations.

Synonyms

absolving, acquitting, clearing, vindicating

Examples of usage

  • The new evidence is exonerating him of all charges.
  • Her exonerating statement helped the defendant's case.
  • The court's decision was exonerating for the wrongly accused.

Translations

Translations of the word "exonerating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exonerante

🇮🇳 निर्दोष करने वाला

🇩🇪 entschuldigend

🇮🇩 membebaskan

🇺🇦 виправдовуючий

🇵🇱 uniewinniający

🇯🇵 無罪を証明する

🇫🇷 exonérant

🇪🇸 exonerante

🇹🇷 aklayıcı

🇰🇷 면죄하는

🇸🇦 تبرئه

🇨🇿 osvobozující

🇸🇰 oslobodzujúci

🇨🇳 免罪的

🇸🇮 opravičujoč

🇮🇸 hreinsandi

🇰🇿 ақтаушы

🇬🇪 განთავისუფლებელი

🇦🇿 bəraət verən

🇲🇽 exonerante

Word origin

The word 'exonerate' originates from the Latin term 'exonerare', which means 'to unburden' or 'to free from a burden'. The prefix 'ex-' means 'out of' or 'from', while 'onerare' comes from 'onus', meaning 'burden'. The term evolved through Middle English in the 15th century and has been used in legal contexts since then to describe the act of freeing someone from an obligation or responsibility. Over the centuries, 'exonerate' has come to be associated primarily with legal innocence, where it signifies the absolution from blame or the removal of charges that have been brought against a person. This evolution reflects the changing nature of justice and accountability in societal norms.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,385 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.