Word
blameless
Phoneticsblame·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫeɪmɫəs/
UK/blˈeɪmləs/
Definition
adj. not responsible for a bad thing that happened. You use this to describe someone who did nothing wrong.
adj. free from guilt or responsibility for a specific fault or misdeed. Often used in legal or moral contexts to describe a person who has not committed a crime or error.
Examples
“The cat is completely blameless for the broken vase.”
“The investigation concluded that the driver was blameless, as the accident was caused by a sudden mechanical failure.”
“While the company faced heavy criticism for the data breach, the individual employee was considered blameless, having followed all internal security protocols to the letter.”
Examples
simple
“The cat is completely blameless for the broken vase.”
contextual
“The investigation concluded that the driver was blameless, as the accident was caused by a sudden mechanical failure.”
complex
“While the company faced heavy criticism for the data breach, the individual employee was considered blameless, having followed all internal security protocols to the letter.”
Real-World Examples
“Of course, none of this explains why Noah feels blameless for getting drunk in the first place.” Etymology
From Middle English blameles, equivalent to blame + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/blameless