exculpatory
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exculpatory
Explanation
Does the blood on the kitchen knife not match that on the accused's clothes? That's exculpatory evidence: anything that clears someone or something of guilt or blame is exculpatory. Exculpatory comes from the Latin word exculpat, meaning "freed from blame." The verb exculpate means to free from guilt or blame. Both words are used most often in a legal or technical sense rather than in everyday conversation — unless of course you're trying to show off.
Vocabulary lists containing exculpatory
Just Mercy
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Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
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Legal Lingo, List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Carcopino’s text was indeed a popular standard, and even if scholars of ancient slavery have long since abandoned this exculpatory view, any living historian of ancient Rome can confirm that the misjudgment lingers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Mayes also requested exculpatory evidence, as requested by defendant and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
From Salon ● Jan. 13, 2025
As Simmons’ lawsuit against the city explained, “These exculpatory police reports were knowingly and deliberately suppressed by the defendants in order to frame plaintiff for a crime he did not commit.”
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2024
According to the passages that were unsealed, Menendez plans to testify about what he believes were exculpatory communications with his wife, Nadine, if he decides to take the witness stand in his defense.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
All of these recorded statements were typed, exculpatory, and favorable to Walter McMillian, and none of them had been disclosed to McMillian's attorneys, as was required.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
