disculpate

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UK[ˈdɪskʌɫpeɪt]UK[ˈdɪskʊɫpeɪt]

verb

To free from blame or the imputation of a fault; to exonerate.

Similar
absolveclearexculpateacquittanceassoilassoilzieacquitdisculp
OriginMedieval Latin disculpātus →
First used 17th c.Scrabble 15
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Meanings

verbdisculpate (third-person singular simple present disculpates, present participle disculpating, simple past and past participle disculpated)

present singular third person disculpates · participle present disculpating · participle past disculpated · past disculpated

  1. transitiveTo free from blame or the imputation of a fault; to exonerate.First known use 17th c.

    He […] endeavoured to disculpate the youth, and left no method untried to soften the tyrant's rage.

    1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, section II

    Synonyms: absolve, clear, exculpate, acquittance, assoil, assoilzie, acquit, absolve

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo free from blame or the imputation of a fault; to exonerate.

Similar
absolveclearexculpateacquittanceassoilassoilzieacquitabsolvecleardisculpexculpateexoneratevindicate
Also see
absolveacquitacquittanceassoilassoilziecleardisculpexculpateexoneratevindicate

Origin

  1. Medieval Latindisculpātus
  2. Englishdisculpate

Borrowed from Medieval Latin disculpātus, perfect passive participle of disculpō (“to disculpate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dis- (“off”, denoting the ending of an action) + culpō (“to blame”), from culpa (“fault”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of disculp.

More words from Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

spiculated
Cite this entry
APA

disculpate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disculpate

MLA

“disculpate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disculpate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “disculpate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disculpate.

Source: disculpate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.