impute

[ im-pyoot ]

/ ɪmˈpyut /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR impute 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.

Nearby words

impure flutter, impurity, imputable, imputation, imputation system, impute, imputed, imputrescible, impv., imran khan, imroz

Origin of impute

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

Related forms

im·put·a·ble, adjectiveim·put·a·tive

[im-pyoo-tuh-tiv] /ɪmˈpyu tə tɪv/, adjectiveim·put·a·tive·ly, adverbim·put·a·tive·ness, noun

im·put·ed·ly, adverbim·put·er, nounnon·im·put·a·ble, adjectivenon·im·put·a·ble·ness, nounnon·im·put·a·bly, adverbnon·im·put·a·tive, adjectivenon·im·put·a·tive·ly, adverbnon·im·put·a·tive·ness, nounun·im·put·a·ble, adjective

Can be confused

impugn impute

Synonym study

1. See attribute.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for impute

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|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|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|DAILY BEAST
If you are a fisherman you impute all sorts of wiles to the fish.
Behind the Mirrors|Clinton W. Gilbert

We impute deep-laid far-sighted plans to Caesar and Napoleon; but the best of their power was in nature, not in them.
Essays, First Series|Ralph Waldo Emerson
I do not possess any magic wand, which envy and folly could not impute to me as an offence.
Piano and Song|Friedrich Wieck
Cease, then, to impute to them those disorders of which they have been the victim.
Old and New Paris, v. 1|Henry Sutherland Edwards
If my letter displeases you, impute it, Dear Sir, only to yourself.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)|Edward Gibbon

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 causeI impute your success to nepotism

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

Derived Forms

imputation, nounimputative, adjectiveimputer, noun

Word Origin for impute

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

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