Understanding Exculpation: Clearing Someone of Blame and Guilt

Exculpate is a verb that means to clear or absolve someone of blame or guilt. It can also mean to excuse or justify someone's actions.

For example, if someone is accused of committing a crime, they might be exculpated if new evidence emerges that proves their innocence. Similarly, if someone makes a mistake at work, their boss might exculpate them if they can show that the error was not intentional.

In legal contexts, exculpation is often used interchangeably with "acquittal," which is a formal judgment that declares someone not guilty of a crime. However, while acquittal refers specifically to the outcome of a criminal trial, exculpation can refer to any situation where someone is cleared of blame or guilt, regardless of whether they were ever formally accused or charged with a crime.