Exonerate
/ɪɡˈzɑːnəˌreɪt/
verbC1
Definition
Exonerate means to clear someone from blame or fault, especially after an investigation or proof shows they did not do something wrong. It is often used in legal situations when a person is found innocent after being accused.
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See It in Action
To officially clear someone from blame or fault
- •The court exonerated the man after new evidence was found.
- •She was exonerated when the video showed she was not at the scene.
- •The investigation exonerated the employee of any wrongdoing.
To free someone from a duty or responsibility (less common)
- •The manager was exonerated from the task due to illness.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "exonerate" like "free," but in a formal way when someone is told they are not guilty
- ✓Picture a judge or a group of people saying, "You did nothing wrong," and removing all blame
- ✓It's the relief and happiness someone feels when they are proven innocent after being blamed unfairly
- ✓Sounds like "egg-ZON-uh-rate" → Imagine an egg being lifted off a plate, removing all the weight and pressure from it
- ✓Think of stories where a hero is wrongly blamed but later the truth comes out and they are cleared
- ✓NOT like "punish" (giving penalty), exonerate is the opposite—it removes blame
- ✓NOT like "forgive" (which means to stop being angry), exonerate means showing clearly no guilt exists
- ✓NOT like "accuse" (to say someone did wrong), exonerate means to say they did NOT do wrong
Try Other Words
- •Acquit: to declare someone not guilty (Use in legal contexts when a court officially finds a person innocent)
- •Clear: to remove blame or doubt (Use in everyday situations, less formal)
- •Absolve: to free from guilt or responsibility (Use in moral or religious contexts often)
- •Vindicate: to show that someone was right or innocent (Use when proving truth or justice after doubt)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: ex- (out of, from)
- •Root: oner (from Latin onus meaning "burden" or "blame")
- •Suffix: -ate (verb ending meaning "to make or do")
- •Etymology: From Latin "exonerare" meaning "to free from burden"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to mean removing blame or responsibility
- •Modern usage: Mainly used in legal and formal contexts to say someone is officially not guilty
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think being exonerated changes a person's life and feelings?
•Can you think of a time when someone was wrongly blamed and later exonerated in a story or news?
Fill in the blanks
1.The new evidence helped ___ the suspect ___ all charges.
2.When a person is ___, it means they are no longer considered guilty after investigation.
3.Unlike being forgiven, to ___ someone means to prove they did not do wrong at all.
4.The lawyer worked hard to ___ her client ___ the false accusations.
5.People often feel great relief and happiness when they are ___ after being blamed.
6.To ___ someone legally requires strong proof, not just an apology.
7.The court's decision to ___ the defendant ___ the crime was based on clear facts.