Dictionary

impute

verb im·pute \im-ˈpyüt\

: to say or suggest that someone or something has or is guilty of (something)

im·put·edim·put·ing

Full Definition of IMPUTE

transitive verb
1
:  to lay the responsibility or blame for often falsely or unjustly
2
:  to credit to a person or a cause :  attribute <our vices as well as our virtues have been imputed to bodily derangement — B. N. Cardozo>
im·put·abil·i·ty \-ˌpyü-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
im·put·able \-ˈpyü-tə-bəl\ adjective
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of IMPUTE

Middle English, from Anglo-French imputer, from Latin imputare, from in- + putare to consider
First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of IMPUTE

ascribe, attribute, assign, impute, credit mean to lay something to the account of a person or thing. ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship <forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters>. attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe , less definiteness than assign <attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate>. assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation <assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period>. impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame <tried to impute sinister motives to my actions>. credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation <credited his teammates for his success>.

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: imputedlyPrevious Word in the Dictionary: imputationalAll Words Near: impute
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears