exonerated

American

[ig-zon-uh-rey-tid] / ɪgˈzɒn əˌreɪ tɪd /

adjective

having been cleared of an accusation or freed from blame.

After years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit, the exonerated man walks out of the prison gates and into the light of day.

noun

Usually the exonerated a person or persons who have been cleared of an accusation or freed from blame.

She is currently the director of a nonprofit that advocates against the death penalty and for the exonerated.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of exonerate.

Other Word Forms

unexonerated adjective

Etymology

Origin of exonerated

exonerate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

When citizens were exonerated, government accounts fell silent about the outcome of their cases, the Journal found.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

"We are confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated," attorney Mitchell Schuster told reporters outside the court, where Diggs's arraignment lasted less than five minutes.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Nunez’s attorneys, Deputy Federal Public Defenders Rebecca Harris and David Menninger, said they were pleased the jury exonerated their client.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2025

Mr Vedam repeatedly appealed the murder conviction and a few years ago new evidence in the case surfaced which exonerated.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

At this point, Nixon wheeled round and point by point, having defined the terms of the argument to his satisfaction, exonerated himself.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023