verb
exonerate
ihg-ZO-nuh-rayt
Exonerate (verb) means to officially clear someone of blame or wrongdoing. Example: “New DNA evidence exonerated him after fifteen years in prison.”
verb
1
To officially clear someone of blame or wrongdoing.
"New DNA evidence exonerated him after fifteen years in prison."
"The internal inquiry exonerated the officer of any misconduct."
How to use exonerate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo formally prove someone is not guilty or not to blame.
Common mistake
Stronger than simply "found not guilty" — exonerate implies proof of innocence, not just lack of sufficient evidence.
Common pairings
exonerate a suspect
fully exonerated
exonerate someone of blame
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- exonerates
- Past tense
- exonerated
- Comparative
- more exonerate
- Superlative
- most exonerate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
New DNA evidence _____ him after fifteen years in prison.
Etymology
From Latin exonerare, "to unburden" or "unload," from ex- ("out, off") plus onus ("a burden").
Related words
Rhymes for exonerate
See all rhymes for exonerate →Frequently asked questions
What does “exonerate” mean?
The word “exonerate” means to officially clear someone of blame or wrongdoing. In plain terms, to formally prove someone is not guilty or not to blame.
How do you pronounce “exonerate”?
“Exonerate” is pronounced ihg-ZO-nuh-rayt (/ɪɡˈzɑnəˌɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “exonerate” in a sentence?
Here is “exonerate” used in a sentence: “New DNA evidence exonerated him after fifteen years in prison.”
What part of speech is “exonerate”?
“Exonerate” is a verb.
Where does the word “exonerate” come from?
The word “exonerate” comes from Latin. From Latin exonerare, "to unburden" or "unload," from ex- ("out, off") plus onus ("a burden").
