Impute

/ɪmˈpjuːt/

Meaning & Definition

verb
to attribute or ascribe a quality, especially a fault, to someone or something.
The committee did not impute any wrongdoing to the manager.
to assign (a value) to something, especially in calculations or models.
We need to impute the missing values in the dataset to complete the analysis.
to consider a person responsible for something.
He attempted to impute the failure of the project to a lack of resources.
to suggest or imply as a source or cause.
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

to throw shade
He was just imputing shade without any evidence.
to call out someone's faults
Don't impute me for your failures.