incriminate

[in-krim-uh-neyt] /ɪnˈkrɪm əˌneɪt/

verb (used with object), incriminated, incriminating.

to accuse of or present proof of a crime or fault:

He incriminated both men to the grand jury.

to involve in an accusation; cause to be or appear to be guilty; implicate:

His testimony incriminated his friend. He feared incriminating himself if he answered.

to charge with responsibility for all or part of an undesirable situation, harmful effect, etc.:

to incriminate cigarettes as a cause of lung cancer.

Origin

1720-30; < Late Latin incrīminātus past participle of incrīmināre to accuse. See in-², criminate

Related forms

incrimination, noun

incriminator, noun

incriminatory

[in-krim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈkrɪm ə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/ (Show IPA), adjective

nonincriminating, adjective

nonincrimination, noun

nonincriminatory, adjective

unincriminated, adjective

unincriminating, adjective

Examples from the web for incrimination

It's a tautology designed to evade self-incrimination.
He also declined to answer questions because of self-incrimination concerns.
As a result there would be no possibility of self incrimination as the suspect was now immune.

British Dictionary definitions for incrimination

incriminate

/ɪnˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt/

verb (transitive)

to imply or suggest the guilt or error of (someone)

to charge with a crime or fault

Derived Forms

incrimination, noun
incriminator, noun
incriminatory, adjective

Word Origin

C18: from Late Latin incrīmināre to accuse, from Latin crīmen accusation; see crime

Word Origin and History for incrimination

1650s, noun of action from Medieval Latin incriminare (see incriminate).

incriminate

1730, back-formation from incrimination or else from Medieval Latin incriminatus, past participle of incriminare "to incriminate," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + criminare "to accuse of a crime," from crimen (genitive criminis) "crime" (see crime). Related: Incriminated; incriminating.