Impute
/ɪmˈpjuːt/
verbC1
Definition
Impute means to give someone the responsibility or blame for something, often something bad or wrong. It is used when you think or say that a person caused an action or result, even if it is not certain. This word is often used in formal or legal language.
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See It in Action
To say or suggest that someone is responsible for something bad
- •The manager was imputed with the failure of the project.
- •She imputed the mistake to her assistant without proof.
- •The report imputes the accident to driver error.
To assign a cause or reason to someone or something (often negative)
- •The company imputed the loss to poor market conditions.
- •Critics imputed the decline in sales to bad advertising.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "impute" like "blame," but more formal and careful—it means to say someone caused something, not just angry blaming.
- ✓Picture a judge in a court saying someone might be responsible for a crime, but still checking the facts.
- ✓It feels like when you think someone made a mistake, but you are not sure yet.
- ✓Sounds like "in-PUTE" → imagine putting (assigning) a reason or fault on someone.
- ✓Think of a story where someone is accused of something, but it is only an idea, not proven truth.
- ✓NOT like "blame" (which can be angry or quick), "impute" is more careful and formal, often used in law or serious talks.
- ✓NOT like "assume" (just guessing), "impute" connects responsibility or cause to a person or thing.
- ✓NOT like "credit" (giving praise), "impute" usually means giving responsibility for something negative.
Try Other Words
- •Attribute: to say something is caused by someone or something (Use when the cause can be good or bad, more neutral)
- •Ascribe: to assign responsibility or cause (Use in formal writing when you want to say something is caused by someone)
- •Charge: to accuse someone of a crime or fault (Use when accusing officially or legally)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "im-" (in, on, or into) + root "pute" (from Latin "putare," meaning to think or consider)
- •Etymology: From Latin "imputare," meaning to reckon or charge to someone's account
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century in English for assigning responsibility or blame
- •Modern usage: Common in law, formal writing, and discussions about responsibility or cause, especially when not proven
Reflect & Connect
•How can the word "impute" help you understand the difference between accusing someone and proving their guilt?
•In what situations is it important to impute responsibility carefully rather than blame quickly?
Fill in the blanks
1.The report imputes the failure ___ poor planning and lack of teamwork.
2.When someone imputes blame ___ another person, they suggest responsibility without proof.
3.Unlike simple blame, to impute means to assign fault in a ___ or formal way.
4.Lawyers often impute actions ___ their clients during a trial.
5.People should be careful not to impute bad intentions ___ others without clear evidence.
6.The manager was imputed ___ causing the problem, but the investigation was still ongoing.
7.Imputing responsibility usually happens when someone ___ the cause of a problem to a person or group.