Exculpate
/ˈɛkskəlˌpeɪt/
verbC2
Definition
To exculpate someone means to clear them from blame or fault. It is used when evidence or facts show that a person did not do what they were accused of. This word is often used in legal or serious situations where guilt or innocence is decided.
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See It in Action
To clear someone from blame or guilt
- •The new evidence helped to exculpate the suspect.
- •The witness testimony exculpated the accused man.
- •The lawyer worked hard to exculpate her client.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "exculpate" like "clear" (A1 word), but for blame or guilt—removing the idea that someone did something wrong.
- ✓Picture a courtroom where a judge says, "You are free; you did not do this," like wiping away a dirty mark.
- ✓It's the feeling of relief when someone proves you did not make a mistake or do something bad.
- ✓Sounds like "ex-cull-pate" → imagine cutting out (cull) the bad part to make the whole clean and clear.
- ✓Think of stories where a character is wrongly accused but later shown to be innocent, like in detective stories.
- ✓NOT like "accuse" (to say someone did wrong), but the opposite—"exculpate" removes the blame.
- ✓NOT like "excuse" (which can mean to forgive or accept), "exculpate" means to prove no guilt, not just forgive.
- ✓NOT like "deny" (just saying no), "exculpate" means giving proof or showing facts that clear someone.
Try Other Words
- •Clear: to show someone is not guilty (Use in everyday or simple contexts)
- •Acquit: to declare someone not guilty in court (Use in legal situations)
- •Absolve: to free someone from blame or responsibility (Use when forgiving or releasing from guilt)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ex-" (out) + "culp" (blame, fault) + "-ate" (verb ending)
- •Etymology: From Latin "exculpatus," meaning "to clear from blame"
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s in legal and formal language to mean removing blame
- •Modern usage: Mostly used in law, formal writing, or serious discussions about guilt and innocence
Reflect & Connect
•How does proving innocence with facts differ from simply saying "I didn't do it"?
•Can someone be exculpated even if people still think they are guilty? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.The new evidence helped to exculpate the defendant ___ the serious crime he was accused of.
2.When a witness speaks the truth, it can ___ a person from false accusations.
3.Unlike just denying guilt, exculpate means to provide ___ that shows innocence.
4.The lawyer tried to exculpate her client by presenting ___ that proved he was not at the scene.
5.People often want to be exculpated because being blamed causes ___ and trouble.
6.To exculpate someone, you need facts or proof, not just ___ statements.
7.Even after being exculpated, sometimes public opinion ___ the person’s innocence.