EXCULPATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does exculpation mean? 

• EXCULPATION (noun)
  The noun EXCULPATION has 2 senses:

1. a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.

2. the act of freeing from guilt or blame

  Familiarity information: EXCULPATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXCULPATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

alibi; exculpation; excuse; self-justification

Context example:

his transparent self-justification was unacceptable

Hypernyms ("exculpation" is a kind of...):

defence; defense; vindication (the justification for some act or belief)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exculpation"):

extenuation; mitigation (a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of freeing from guilt or blame

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("exculpation" is a kind of...):

forgiveness; pardon (the act of excusing a mistake or offense)

Derivation:

exculpate (pronounce not guilty of criminal charges)