verb
exonerate
ihg-ZO-nuh-rayt
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
Word Forms
more exonerate comparative, exonerated past tense, exonerates singular, most exonerate superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “exonerate”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
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").