Standard Lemma guide

exculpate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɛkskəlpeɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH2 K S K AH1 L P EY0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To clear of or to free from guilt; exonerate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1896, Edward Manson, J. S. Henderson (editors), Reports of Cases in Bankruptcy and Companies' Winding-Up, Volume 3, Sweet & Maxwell, page 72, When one comes to look at subsection 7, it is quite clear that the Court can only allow expenses to a person ordered to attend for examination if in the opinion of the Court he is exculpated from any of the charges made or suggested against him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: absolve, acquit, disculpate, exonerate, pardon, acquittance, assoil, assoilzie, clear, disculp, exculpate, vindicate

Antonyms: blame, condemn, incriminate, inculpate, indict, accuse, atwite, bumble, challenge, cop out, decry, defame, denounce, fault, finger, lay at someone's door, lay on, lay something at the feet of, patronize, point the bone, put it to, put the blame on, shend, twit, wite, accriminate, appeach, arraign, becry, charge, criminate, have up

2

verb

Meaning 2

pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The suspect was cleared of the murder charges

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: acquit, assoil, clear, discharge, exonerate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pronounce, label, judge

Narrower terms: vindicate, whitewash, purge

History

Etymology

From Medieval Latin exculpātus, perfect passive participle of exculpō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out, from”) + culpa (“fault; blame”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: оправдавам (opravdavam) — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Hindi: दोषमुक्त करना (doṣmukt karnā) — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Hungarian: tisztáz — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Hungarian: kiment — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Hungarian: felment — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Polish: uniewinniać — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Polish: uniewinnić — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Polish: usprawiedliwiać — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Polish: usprawiedliwić — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Polish: oczyszczać — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Polish: oczyścić — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Portuguese: exculpar — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Russian: опра́вдывать (oprávdyvatʹ) — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Russian: оправда́ть (opravdátʹ) — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Spanish: exculpar — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Swedish: rättfärdiga — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Swedish: rentvå — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate
  • Swedish: frikänna — to clear of or free from guilt; exonerate