exoneration
Americannoun
-
the act of clearing someone of blame or of an accusation or criminal charge.
I would like to highlight the importance of not only the release, but also the exoneration of political prisoners.
-
the act of relieving someone of an obligation or duty.
The granting of tax exemptions and exonerations is one of the most common types of influence peddling used by corrupt regimes.
Etymology
Origin of exoneration
First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin exonerātiōn-, stem of exonerātiō “an unburdening, discharging,” equivalent to exonerāt(us) + -iō -ion ( def. ); see exonerate ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing exoneration
2015 National Spelling Bee Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates wins the National Book Award
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
But the U.S. attorney’s office didn’t issue a public exoneration, and officials suggested they could restart the investigation at any time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026
Deen may be past the point of complete public exoneration, but at least she has integrity to help her sleep at night — no stone over the head required.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2025
The spokesperson added: "We stand ready to annihilate Ms Pisciotta's tall tales before a jury − an exoneration so inevitable that even she, lost in her fog of fantasy, must surely see it coming."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2025
This new script is exemplified by stories of death row inmates who have been freed by revelations of injustice and of others who were executed despite strong cases for exoneration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2025
The movie had played a role in Adams's exoneration, and he was released from Texas’s death row not long after its release.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions 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.
