implicated
Americanadjective
-
shown to be also involved, especially in an incriminating manner.
In the wake of last year’s doping scandal, the Cycling Federation states that this year’s team will have no connection to any of the implicated team members, either directly or indirectly.
-
implied as a necessary circumstance, or as something to be inferred or understood.
My defensive post was answering an implicated accusation that clearly overstepped the boundaries of an opinion.
-
intimately connected or related, or affected as a result.
The paper delves into the historical background of our modern understanding of time, as well as the implicated problem of infinity.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of implicated
Explanation
Someone who is implicated in something is shown to be somehow involved in it. The word is often used in a negative sense, suggesting an involvement in something wrong, with the person being implicated by the facts of the case. The Latin word implicātus, which means "folded in," is the past participle of implicāre, meaning to interweave ideas or objects. In the 17th century, the word referred to a general entanglement in a complicated situation. By 1797, the definition had come to focus on the idea of criminal involvement, suggesting someone "folded in," or involved, in a crime or scandal. Today, the word implicated is not necessarily tied to crime, but it's generally negative.
Vocabulary lists containing implicated
And Then There Were None
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!
The Nickel Boys
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!
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
This brain structure has been historically implicated in emotional regulation.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
Wildlife intervention involves actions to tackle the maintenance and spread of bTB in badgers, which are implicated in the spread of the disease.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
The CJP has set up a legal fund to help meet the expenses of protesters implicated in criminal cases by the police, Saurav Das, another spokesperson for the youth-led movement, said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The regulatory agency said it continues to work with Taylor Farms, which also operates as Taylor Fresh Foods, to ensure “product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
His alibi—that he was with another woman—checked out, and it became clear that the forger who had implicated Brown had fabricated his story hoping to bargain with prosecutors for better prison conditions.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
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.
