First Known Use: circa 1736
Dictionary
incriminate
verb in·crim·i·nate \in-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt\
: to cause (someone) to appear guilty of or responsible for something (such as a crime)
in·crim·i·nat·edin·crim·i·nat·ing
Full Definition of INCRIMINATE
transitive verb
: to charge with or show evidence or proof of involvement in a crime or fault
— in·crim·i·na·tion \-ˌkri-mə-ˈnā-shən\ noun
— in·crim·i·na·to·ry \-ˈkrim-nə-ˌtȯr-ē, -ˈkri-mə-\ adjective
See incriminate defined for English-language learners
See incriminate defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of INCRIMINATE
Late Latin incriminatus, past participle of incriminare, from Latin in- + crimin-, crimen crime
Related to INCRIMINATE
Other Legal Terms
Rhymes with INCRIMINATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
INCRIMINATE Defined for Kids
incriminate
verb in·crim·i·nate \in-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt\
in·crim·i·nat·edin·crim·i·nat·ing
Definition of INCRIMINATE for Kids
: to make (someone) appear guilty of or responsible for something <… the story of how it had fallen into his hands incriminated not only him, but his own father … — J. K. Rowling, Goblet of Fire>
Learn More About INCRIMINATE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: incriminatorPrevious Word in the Dictionary: increscentAll Words Near: incriminate
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up incriminate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).