exculpatory

[ ik-skuhl-puh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. tending to clear from a charge of fault or guilt.

Other Words From

• nonex·culpa·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exculpatory¹

First recorded in 1770–80; exculpate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

Yet despite being repeatedly pressed on camera, he declines to reveal this supposedly exculpatory information.

From The Daily Beast

An appellate court determined that prosecutors had not shared possible exculpatory evidence with defense attorneys.

From Washington Post

Central to the effort are those claims that the election was stolen, a claim that the suit reiterates explicitly as an exculpatory point for Lindell’s assertions about Dominion’s voting machines.

From Washington Post

Under questioning from defense attorneys, the police officer who cited Sangha admitted he had not looked for any exculpatory evidence that might be turned over to the defense, according to defense filings.

From Washington Post

Assistant County Attorney Brad Kinkade, in his rebuttal, inveighed against the exculpatory value of journalism.

From Washington Post

By the way, more has happened this week on the exculpatory front.

From The Daily Beast

Choose your narrative, get your exculpatory/inculpatory interpretation.

From The Daily Beast

Understanding the neurophysiology of the brain, therefore, would seem to be as exculpatory as finding a tumor in it.

From The Daily Beast

He is a convicted killer, but his boyishness is disarming, almost exculpatory.

From The Daily Beast

None of that evidence is dispositive--but it is certainly not exculpatory either.

From The Daily Beast

The queen mother's exculpatory statements may be examined in Le Laboureur, Add.

From Project Gutenberg

But the justice done to Edgar she gloried in, as an apology for her feelings, and exculpatory of her weakness.

From Project Gutenberg

Reflections, indignant or exculpatory, on the conduct of the French in this Business are useless to Friedrich, and to us.

From Project Gutenberg

His business is to be reticent, not exculpatory; to maintain silence, not set up a defence nor yet proclaim the truth.

From Project Gutenberg

February 16, 1680, he addressed to the Jesuit General Oliva a long exculpatory letter.

From Project Gutenberg