Exculpation

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Exculpation \Ex`cul*pa"tion\, n. [Cf. LL. exculpatio.]
     The act of exculpating from alleged fault or crime; that
     which exculpates; excuse.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           These robbers, however, were men who might have made


           out a strong case in exculpation of themselves.
                                                    --Southey.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  exculpation
       n 1: a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep
            a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay";
            "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job";
            "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"
            [syn: {excuse}, {alibi}, {self-justification}]
       2: the act of freeing from guilt or blame

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  39 Moby Thesaurus words for "exculpation":
     absolution, acquittal, acquittance, amnesty, clearance, clearing,
     compurgation, destigmatization, destigmatizing, discharge,
     disculpation, dismissal, excuse, exemption, exoneration,
     explanation, forgiveness, grace, immunity, indemnity,
     justification, pardon, purgation, purging, quietus, quittance,
     rationalization, redemption, rehabilitation, reinstatement,
     release, remission, remission of sin, reprieve, restoration,
     shrift, sparing, verdict of acquittal, vindication