impute

American  

[im-pyoot] / ɪmˈpyut /

verb (used with object)

imputes, present (3rd person singular) imputed, past participle, past imputing present participle

1. to attribute or ascribe.

   The children imputed magical powers to the old woman.

2. to attribute or ascribe (something discreditable), as to a person.

3. 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.

4. Theology. to attribute (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person or persons vicariously; ascribe as derived from another.

5. Obsolete. to charge (a person) with fault.

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impute British  

/ ɪmˈpjuːt /

verb

1. to attribute or ascribe (something dishonest or dishonourable, esp a criminal offence) to a person

2. to attribute to a source or cause

   I impute your success to nepotism

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

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Synonym Usage

See attribute.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonimputably
  adverb
• imputable
  adjective
• nonimputable
  adjective
• unimputable
  adjective
• imputer
  noun
• nonimputatively
  adverb
• nonimputableness
  noun
• imputative
  adjective
• imputativeness
  noun
• imputation
  noun
• imputedly
  adverb
• imputatively
  adverb
• nonimputativeness
  noun
• nonimputative
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have imputed
  perfect
• has imputed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been imputing
  perfect progressive
• am imputing
  progressive 1st person singular
• is imputing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• imputing
  participle
• has been imputing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are imputing
  progressive
• imputes
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had imputed
  perfect
• were imputing
  progressive plural
• was imputing
  progressive singular
• imputed
  simple
• imputed
  participle
• had been imputing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will impute
  simple
• will have imputed
  perfect
• will be imputing
  progressive
• will have been imputing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of impute

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

Explanation

The verb impute can be used to blame someone for doing something bad, give credit for good work, or just tell it like it is, like when you impute your lateness to my not telling you where to meet me. When you impute something, you name the cause of something that has happened. For example, you might impute your ability to sing well to the thousands of dollars your parents spent in voice lessons. In other words, you name the source. You can also impute a person, like imputing to a teacher your love of learning — he or she helped you become more interested in school and your classes.

Example Sentences

Justice Chandrachud said his comment on seeking divine guidance was because “I am a person of faith” and “to impute motives to judges is not right”.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2024

We can’t impute the human motives of revenge to creatures whose intelligence and emotions are funneled through an entirely different evolutionary scheme.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 28, 2023

To some listeners, though, he remains a toxic figure whose alleged misdeeds impute a moral if not a commercial stain on artists who continue to work with him.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2023

We invent ever-more-outlandish conspiracies, impute ever-baser motives, foretell ever-bleaker futures.

From Washington Post • Oct. 5, 2021

I have thought up a horrible dream to impute to Hrothgar.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Related Words

• ascribe