Synonyms

implicate

American

[im-pli-keyt] / ˈɪm plɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

to show to be also involved, usually in an incriminating manner.

to be implicated in a crime.
to imply as a necessary circumstance, or as something to be inferred or understood.
to connect or relate to intimately; affect as a consequence.

The malfunctioning of one part of the nervous system implicates another part.
Archaic. to fold or twist together; intertwine; interlace.

implicate British

/ ˈɪmplɪˌkeɪt, ɪmˈplɪkətɪv /

verb

to show to be involved, esp in a crime
to involve as a necessary inference; imply

his protest implicated censure by the authorities
to affect intimately

this news implicates my decision
rare to intertwine or entangle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See involve.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

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Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of implicate

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin implicātus, past participle of implicāre “to interweave,” equivalent to im- im- ¹ + plicā(re) “to fold” + -ātus -ate ¹; see ply ²

Explanation

The verb implicate means "to connect or involve in something." For example, your cousins might implicate you in the planning of a big party for your grandparents. Implicate comes from the Latin word implicare, meaning "to entwine, involve." When you implicate someone, you bring him or her into a group or to pitch in on a project. Implicate can have criminal connotations when it means "to connect in an incriminating manner," like when detectives figure out who drove the getaway car in the bank robbery — that person will be implicated for his or her role in the crime.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Although many people with security clearances are government employees, millions of private citizens also need clearances to work on military matters or to represent criminal defendants charged with crimes that implicate sensitive information.

From Slate • May 15, 2026

The 49-year-old has vowed to implicate officials in the current government in the case.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

The files do not implicate Clinton in any wrongdoing; he has not been accused of misconduct by Epstein's victims who have come forward so far, and there is no proof he knew of his crimes.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Prosecutors in Paris on Saturday said they would re-examine the case of Brunel and set up a special team to analyze evidence that could implicate French nationals in the Epstein case.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

The state called the first of their star witnesses, Solomon Ngubase, who offered sensational evidence that seemed to implicate the ANC.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023