Word
implicate
Phoneticsim·pli·cate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪmpɫɪˌkeɪt/
UK/ˈɪmplɪkˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to suggest that someone is responsible for something bad without saying it directly. You use this when a fact or a story makes you think a person did something wrong.
v. to suggest or indicate that someone is responsible for a particular action or event without explicitly stating it. Often used in legal or philosophical contexts to describe the logical connection between evidence and a suspect.
Examples
“The evidence implicates him in the crime.”
“The witness's testimony implicates several high-ranking officials in the cover-up.”
“While the data does not directly prove guilt, it strongly implicates the company in the environmental disaster by showing a clear pattern of negligence.”
Examples
simple
“The evidence implicates him in the crime.”
contextual
“The witness's testimony implicates several high-ranking officials in the cover-up.”
complex
“While the data does not directly prove guilt, it strongly implicates the company in the environmental disaster by showing a clear pattern of negligence.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “implicate” in context.
Verb
01. implicate in
“The witness's testimony served to implicate the CEO in the fraudulent accounting scheme.”
verb + prep
Real-World Examples
“Researchers have previously found this small structure to be heavily implicated in alcohol use disorder symptoms such as anxiety and depression.” “Its recommendations included making punitive damages available in England and Wales in cases where corporate illegality is implicated in death.” Etymology
First attested in the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicaten (poorly attested), from implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; involved, connected (with)”, possibly also used as the past participle of implicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin implicātus, perfect passive participle of implicō (“to entangle, involve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from plicō (“to fold”). Doublet of imply and employ.
First attested in the first part of the 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; incolved, connected (with)”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix), -ate (noun-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/implicate