exonerate
verb
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Where does exonerate come from?
Exonerate comes from the Latin verb exonerare, meaning "to unburden." That verb combines the prefix ex- with onus, meaning "load" or "burden." In its earliest uses, exonerate was applied to physical burdens—a ship, for example, could be exonerated of its cargo when it was unloaded. Later it was used in reference to the freeing of any kind of burden, including blame or charges of wrongdoing.
Examples of exonerate in a Sentence
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
The final chapter of the Single Black Female franchise picks up when Monica (Goodwin) has finally been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of murder, but her freedom comes at a price.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2025
Moreover, he is saddled by an array of potential conflicts arising from his efforts to exonerate Jan. 6 defendants — including serving on the board of an organization that helped to pay their legal fees.
—Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
Anthony Porter, who had come within 48 hours of execution, became the 10th exonerated death row prisoner in Illinois, thanks in part to Northwestern journalism students.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Exonerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exonerate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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exonerate
verb
Legal Definition
exonerate
transitive verb
Latin exonerare to relieve, free, discharge, from ex- out + onerare to burden, from oner-, onus load
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