# implicate

/ˈɪmpɫɪˌkeɪt/ (US) · /ˈɪmplɪkˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/implicate
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.