verb · formal
exonerate
UK/ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt/US/ɛɡˈzɑːnəreɪt/ex·ON·er·ate
to officially declare someone not guilty of a crime or free them from blame
Examples
“New DNA evidence helped to exonerate the man after 10 years in prison.”
“The inquiry exonerated the company of any wrongdoing.”
“She was exonerated when CCTV footage proved she was elsewhere at the time.”
Band 8 sentence
“Following a lengthy review, the commission exonerated several officials who had been unjustly implicated.”
Collocations
- exonerate someone
- be exonerated by
Word family
Common mistakes
He was exonerated from the crime.→He was exonerated of the crime.
The court exonerated him last year for fraud.→The court exonerated him of fraud last year.
Say it for a higher band
5clear→6prove innocent→7+exonerate
Synonyms
clear
Easily confused
acquit
“The jury acquitted him after a short deliberation.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Crime & Law
Learn it with its set