impute

[ im-pyoot ]

See synonyms for: impute imputed imputes imputable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),im·put·ed, im·put·ing.

to attribute or ascribe: The children imputed magical powers to the old woman.
to attribute or ascribe (something discreditable), as to a person.

Law. to ascribe to or charge (a person) with an act or quality because of the conduct of another over whom one has control or for whose acts or conduct one is responsible.
Theology. to attribute (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person or persons vicariously; ascribe as derived from another.
Obsolete. to charge (a person) with fault.

Origin of impute

1325–75; Middle English imputen<Latin imputāre, equivalent to im-im-¹ + putāre to assess, reckon, think; see putative

synonym study For impute

1. See attribute.

Other words from impute

im·put·a·ble, adjective
im·put·a·tive [im-pyoo-tuh-tiv], /ɪmˈpyu tə tɪv/, adjective
im·put·a·tive·ly, adverb
im·put·a·tive·ness, noun
im·put·ed·ly, adverb
im·put·er, noun
non·im·put·a·ble, adjective
non·im·put·a·ble·ness, noun
non·im·put·a·bly, adverb
non·im·put·a·tive, adjective
non·im·put·a·tive·ly, adverb
non·im·put·a·tive·ness, noun
un·im·put·a·ble, adjective

Words that may be confused with impute

impugn, impute

Words Nearby impute

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use impute in a sentence

“We’re imputing to him things he does not want to do in our usual effort to demonize him and his country,” MacGregor declared before saying we “need to remember” that Ukraine has a history of political corruption.
Jennifer Griffin Once Again Brutally Fact-Checks a Pro-Putin Fox News Segment | Justin Baragona | February 28, 2022 | The Daily Beast
In an influential paper published earlier this year, researchers Timnit Gebru and others wrote that humans have a tendency to “impute meaning where there is none.”
An Artificial Intelligence Helped Write This Play. It May Contain Racism | Billy Perrigo | August 23, 2021 | Time
We then imputed wealth and income between SCF years and calculated taxes and wealth growth for the typical family in our cohort using these figures.
How We Calculated the True Tax Rates of the Wealthiest | by Jeff Ernsthausen, Paul Kiel and Jesse Eisinger | June 8, 2021 | ProPublica
These polls are still included in our averages and models with an imputed sample size until we obtain the actual sample size.
Polls Policy And FAQs | Dhrumil Mehta (dhrumil.mehta@fivethirtyeight.com) | July 17, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
As a former rock critic, Ms. Maslin should know better than to impute bad intent here.
The Maslin Stain: A Writer Defends Himself Against the NYT Critic | William Stadiem | February 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

People will impute responsibility on them for the actions of the family member.
Wisconsin Spa Shooting Brings Back Painful Memories for the Moms of Mass Killers | Winston Ross | October 25, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Fringe characters—guides, drivers—sometimes appear out of nowhere, with the reader being left to impute who "Vanya" is.
Great Weekend Reads | The Daily Beast | January 22, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Vanderbank felt of a sudden almost guilty—as if his answer could only impute extravagance to the lady.
The Awkward Age | Henry James
Pray impute therefore solely to these hard times my not more practically showing my gratitude to you on account of Carl.
Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 1 of 2 | Lady Wallace
These and many other irregularities I impute solely to the Naib; and I think it my duty to recommend his instant removal.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. XI. (of 12) | Edmund Burke
No, nor even with the green-eyed monster Jealousy her unscrupulous effrontery had not hesitated to impute.
Somehow Good | William de Morgan
This being the case, ought they not to impute their sufferings to him, into whose arms they fly for comfort?
Good Sense | Paul Henri Thiry, Baron D'Holbach

British Dictionary definitions for impute

impute

/ (ɪmˈpjuːt) /

verb(tr)

to attribute or ascribe (something dishonest or dishonourable, esp a criminal offence) to a person
to attribute to a source or cause: I impute your success to nepotism

commerce to give (a notional value) to goods or services when the real value is unknown

Origin of impute

C14: from Latin imputāre, from im- + putāre to think, calculate

Derived forms of impute

imputation, noun
imputative, adjective
imputer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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