impute
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
verb
-
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
Related Words
See attribute.
Other Word Forms
- imputable adjective
- imputation noun
- imputative adjective
- imputatively adverb
- imputativeness noun
- imputedly adverb
- imputer noun
- nonimputable adjective
- nonimputableness noun
- nonimputably adverb
- nonimputative adjective
- nonimputatively adverb
- nonimputativeness noun
- unimputable adjective
Etymology
Origin of impute
1325–75; Middle English imputen < Latin imputāre, equivalent to im- im- 1 + putāre to assess, reckon, think; putative
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.
That prompted the agency to substitute “imputed” numbers for hard data.
From Los Angeles Times
Miran also questioned parts of the inflation data that rely on imputed prices rather than observed transactions, particularly in services.
From Barron's
“At current trading levels, we estimate the stock is currently imputing lower LNG margins, minimal future growth, and/or additional negative arbitration outcomes beyond what the company has stated,” they wrote.
From Barron's
Last Friday’s softer-than-expected consumer price index for September, which propelled stocks to a record high, included a large number of “imputed” calculations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
From Barron's
However, the prosecution had also angered members of Paty's family by refusing to push for maximum sentences, and by downgrading the qualification of some of the imputed crimes.
From BBC
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.
