inculpate

verb

in·​cul·​pate in-ˈkəl-ˌpāt 

ˈin-(ˌ)kəl-

inculpated; inculpating

transitive verb

: to impute guilt to : incriminate

inculpation

ˌin-(ˌ)kəl-ˈpā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Inculpate is the opposite of exculpate, just as inculpatory evidence is the opposite of exculpatory evidence. By inculpating someone else, an accused person may manage to exculpate himself. Through plea bargaining, the prosecution can often encourage a defendant to inculpate his friends in return for a lighter sentence.

Examples of inculpate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the years, Pearcy has given numerous different accounts of the crime — at times blaming Dailey and other times inculpating himself. —Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 13 Feb. 2012

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin inculpatus, from Latin in- + culpatus, past participle of culpare to blame, from culpa guilt

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above