clear someone's name

verb

To prove the innocence of a person previously considered or suspected to be guilty.

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Meanings

verbclear someone's name (third-person singular simple present clears someone's name, present participle clearing someone's name, simple past and past participle cleared someone's name)

present singular third person clears someone's name · participle present clearing someone's name · participle past cleared someone's name · past cleared someone's name

  1. To prove the innocence of a person previously considered or suspected to be guilty.

    Sanjiv Clement has been labeled a traitor, but his friend is sure he was taken against his will by exiles and asked for proof to help clear Sanjiv's name.

    2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Task: Traitor or Victim?

Translations

Dutch iemands naam zuiveren
  • iemands naam zuiverenprove someone's innocence
Cite this entry
APA

clear someone's name. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clear%20someone's%20name

MLA

“clear someone's name.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clear%20someone's%20name. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clear someone's name,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clear%20someone's%20name.

Source: clear someone's name on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.