imputation

/,impju:'teiʃn/

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Word: Imputation

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: Imputation refers to the act of attributing or ascribing something, often something negative or dishonest, to a person, group, or cause. It is commonly used when discussing accusations or blame.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "imputation" when you want to talk about the attribution of responsibility, especially in a context where there is a suggestion of wrongdoing.
• It is often used in formal or legal contexts.

Example Sentence:

• "The imputation that he cheated on the exam made him feel very upset, even though he had studied hard."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "imputation" can also refer to a formal accusation or suggestion that someone is responsible for a negative action or outcome, especially in legal or moral discussions.

Word Variants:

• Impute (verb): To assign or attribute a responsibility or fault to someone. For example, "She did not want to impute blame to anyone for the mistake."
• Imputational (adjective): Relating to the act of imputing something. For example, "The imputational evidence was not strong enough to prove guilt."

Different Meanings:

1. Formal Accusation: In legal contexts, imputation can specifically refer to accusations of illegal activity or dishonesty.
2. Attribution of Cause: It can also refer to attributing a cause or source to an effect, but this is less common.

Synonyms:

• Accusation
• Attribution
• Charge
• Blame

Idioms:

While there aren’t specific idioms that use “imputation” directly, you might hear phrases like “casting aspersions” which means to make damaging remarks about someone’s character or actions, similar to making an imputation.

Phrasal Verbs:

There aren’t specific phrasal verbs that use “imputation,” but you might find phrases like “to lay blame” or “to point fingers” which can convey similar meanings of assigning responsibility or fault.

Summary:

Imputation is a noun that refers to the act of attributing negative actions or qualities to someone. It is often used in formal discussions about blame or accusations.

Academic

Noun

1. the attribution to a source or cause
   • the imputation that my success was due to nepotism meant that I was not taken seriously
2. a statement attributing something dishonest (especially a criminal offense)
   • he denied the imputation