Exculpatory

Hi, savvy sleuth!
Exculpatory is a way to describe evidence that clears a person of blame or guilt. American lawyers carefully comb through all relevant document collections before a trial, because under U.S. law, prosecutors must hand over any potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense. The next time facts swing in your favor just like you knew they would, marvel at how a single exculpatory discovery can close a case.

WORD OF THE DAY
July 22, 2025


exculpatory
[ ik-skuhl-puh-tawr-ee ] adjective

tending to clear from a charge of fault or guilt

More about exculpatory
First recorded in 1770–80.
Combines exculpate, from Latin exculp;tus, meaning “free from blame,” + -ory;.
Shares the same Latin root as culpable.
EXAMPLES OF EXCULPATORY

The lawyer presented exculpatory evidence that cast doubt on the defendant’s testimony.
The DNA results from the crime scene were exculpatory, ruling out the accused as the perpetrator.