Meaning & Definition of word "Impute"

Impute

/ɪmˈpjuːt/

verb:

  • 1. to attribute or ascribe a quality, especially a fault, to someone or something.
    • Example: The committee did not impute any wrongdoing to the manager.
  • 2. to assign (a value) to something, especially in calculations or models.
    • Example: We need to impute the missing values in the dataset to complete the analysis.
  • 3. to consider a person responsible for something.
    • Example: He attempted to impute the failure of the project to a lack of resources.
  • 4. to suggest or imply as a source or cause.
    • Example: The lawyer imputed his client's actions to the circumstances surrounding the case.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French 'imputer', from Latin 'imputare', meaning 'to reckon, charge to account'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

impute motives:

to assume someone's motives based on their actions

impute guilt:

to assign blame or responsibility for wrongdoing

impute fault:

to attribute a fault or error to someone

Related Words

attribution:

the act of attributing something to someone or something

ascription:

the action of assigning a quality or characteristic

blame:

to assign responsibility for a fault or wrong

Slang Meanings of impute

Meaning: to throw shade

Example Sentence: He was just imputing shade without any evidence.

Meaning: to call out someone's faults

Example Sentence: Don't impute me for your failures.