impute

[ im-pyoot ]

verb (used with object)

, im·put·ed, im·put·ing.

1. to attribute or ascribe:

   The children imputed magical powers to the old woman.

2. to attribute or ascribe (something discreditable), as to a person.
3. Law. to ascribe to or charge (a person) with an act or quality because of the conduct of another over whom one has control or for whose acts or conduct one is responsible.
4. Theology. to attribute (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person or persons vicariously; ascribe as derived from another.
5. Obsolete. to charge (a person) with fault.

impute

/ ɪmˈpjuːt /

verb

1. to attribute or ascribe (something dishonest or dishonourable, esp a criminal offence) to a person
2. to attribute to a source or cause

   I impute your success to nepotism

3. commerce to give (a notional value) to goods or services when the real value is unknown

Derived Forms

• ˌimpuˈtation, noun
• imˈputative, adjective
• imˈputer, noun

Other Words From

• im·puta·ble adjective
• im·put·a·tive [im-, pyoo, -t, uh, -tiv], adjective
• im·puta·tive·ly adverb
• im·puta·tive·ness noun
• im·puted·ly adverb
• im·puter noun
• nonim·puta·ble adjective
• nonim·puta·ble·ness noun
• nonim·puta·bly adverb
• nonim·puta·tive adjective
• nonim·puta·tive·ly adverb
• nonim·puta·tive·ness noun
• unim·puta·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impute¹

1325–75; Middle English imputen < Latin imputāre, equivalent to im- im- ¹ + putāre to assess, reckon, think; putative

Word History and Origins

Origin of impute¹

C14: from Latin imputāre, from im- + putāre to think, calculate

Synonym Study

See attribute.

Example Sentences

“We’re imputing to him things he does not want to do in our usual effort to demonize him and his country,” MacGregor declared before saying we “need to remember” that Ukraine has a history of political corruption.

From The Daily Beast

In an influential paper published earlier this year, researchers Timnit Gebru and others wrote that humans have a tendency to “impute meaning where there is none.”

From Time

We then imputed wealth and income between SCF years and calculated taxes and wealth growth for the typical family in our cohort using these figures.

From ProPublica

These polls are still included in our averages and models with an imputed sample size until we obtain the actual sample size.

From FiveThirtyEight

As a former rock critic, Ms. Maslin should know better than to impute bad intent here.

From The Daily Beast

People will impute responsibility on them for the actions of the family member.

From The Daily Beast

Fringe characters—guides, drivers—sometimes appear out of nowhere, with the reader being left to impute who "Vanya" is.

From The Daily Beast

Vanderbank felt of a sudden almost guilty—as if his answer could only impute extravagance to the lady.

From Project Gutenberg

Pray impute therefore solely to these hard times my not more practically showing my gratitude to you on account of Carl.

From Project Gutenberg

These and many other irregularities I impute solely to the Naib; and I think it my duty to recommend his instant removal.

From Project Gutenberg

No, nor even with the green-eyed monster Jealousy her unscrupulous effrontery had not hesitated to impute.

From Project Gutenberg

This being the case, ought they not to impute their sufferings to him, into whose arms they fly for comfort?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ascribe