Exculpatory
/ˌɛk.skəlˈpeɪ.tɔːr.i/noun
Serving to clear someone of blame or guilt.
Did you know?Exculpatory comes from Latin ex- (“out of”) + culpa (“fault, blame”), so its core idea is not innocence, but being pulled out of guilt.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
exculpāre
“to free from blame, excuse”
Latin
Latin
ex- + culpa
“out of + fault, blame”
Medieval Latin
Latin
exculpatorius
“serving to excuse or clear from blame”
Late Middle English
English
exculpatory
“tending to clear from guilt or blame”
Modern English
English
exculpatory
“serving to exonerate or absolve someone of blame”