Meaning & use
exculpatory statement
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablelegal
A formal account that tends to show someone is not guilty or not responsible for wrongdoing.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an exculpatory statement' or 'several exculpatory statements'.
Patterns
- make an exculpatory statement
- provide an exculpatory statement
- an exculpatory statement from someone
The defense presented an exculpatory statement from a witness who saw the defendant elsewhere.
Police are required to disclose any exculpatory statement that could help the accused.
Her exculpatory statement was recorded and later used in court.
Word forms
| plural | exculpatory statements |
|---|
Common combinations
- exculpatory evidence
- The judge ruled that the exculpatory evidence must be shared with the defense.
- exculpatory statement
- He gave an exculpatory statement to the investigators.
- inculpatory statement
- An inculpatory statement can be used to prove guilt.
- exculpatory clause
- The contract included an exculpatory clause to limit liability.
Synonyms and how they differ
- vindicating statement
- This is a more general phrase; it emphasizes clearing someone of blame but is not a fixed legal term.
- exonerating statement
- Similar meaning, but 'exonerating' often implies a formal clearing of all charges, while 'exculpatory' only suggests a tendency to clear.
Opposites
Word family
- exculpate verb
- To clear someone of blame or guilt.
- exculpatory adjective
- Tending to clear someone of blame.
- exculpation noun
- The act of clearing someone of blame.
Commonly confused: exculpatory statement or inculpatory statement?
exculpatory statement vs inculpatory statement
This is the opposite: it tends to show guilt or responsibility. Be careful not to mix them up.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'exculpatory statement' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An exculpatory statement tends to clear someone of blame, so it would be used by the defense to suggest innocence. Option 0 and 3 describe statements that accuse, which would be inculpatory, and option 2 is illogical because such a statement would not increase a sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “exculpatory statement”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.