English Explanatory Dictionary

exonerate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To relieve (someone or something) of a load; to unburden (a load).
  2. Of a body of water: to discharge or empty (itself).
  3. To free (someone) from an obligation, responsibility or task.
  4. To free (someone) from accusation or blame.
adj
  1. Freed from an obligation; freed from accusation or blame; acquitted, exonerated.

Pronunciation

/ɪɡˈzɒnəɹeɪt/ /ɛɡ-/ /ɪɡˈzɑnəˌɹeɪt/ en-us-exonerate.ogg en-au-exonerate.ogg

Word forms

exonerate exonerates exonerating exonerated more exonerate most exonerate

Etymology

From Middle English exoneraten (attested in past participle exonerated), from Latin exonerātus, past perfect participle of exonerō (“to discharge, unload; to exonerate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Exonerō is from ex- (“out, from”) + onerō (“to burden, lade; to load”) further from onus (oner-) (“a burden, load”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃énh₂os (“burden, load”), from *h₃enh₂- (“to charge, onerate”). Compare French exonérer.

Synonyms

absolve acquit exculpate acquittance assoil assoilzie clear disculp disculpate exonerate vindicate

Related words

exoneration exonerator

Derived words

exonerable exonerated exonerative exoneree
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