What does incrimination mean?
Incrimination means the act of accusing someone of wrongdoing or the presence of evidence and circumstances that make guilt appear likely. It is especially common in legal, investigative, and journalistic writing, where the word describes a formal accusation as well as the clues that support one. For example, testimony or documents may provide the basis for a suspect's incrimination, while suspicious circumstances can amount to evidence of incrimination. The term carries a strongly negative association because it concerns blame, criminal suspicion, and the possibility of guilt. It is more specific than a general criticism and broader in some respects than a formal indictment, which is a specific legal procedure. Understanding the distinction helps in reading accounts of investigations and court proceedings accurately.
nounThe act of accusing someone of a crime or wrongdoing. It can also refer to evidence or circumstances that make someone appear guilty or increase their suspicion of wrongdoing.
- The act of accusing someone of a crime or wrongdoing.
- Evidence or circumstances that tend to make someone appear guilty of wrongdoing.
"The missing records were a major factor in the incrimination of the suspect."
"The witness testimony contributed to the incrimination of the defendant."
"The company denied that its financial records provided any incrimination of wrongdoing."
The plural is used when referring to multiple accusations or separate instances of wrongdoing being attributed to someone.
"The inquiry produced several incriminations, though none had yet been tested in court."
Incrimination is the moment when a clue becomes more than suspicious: it starts pointing toward guilt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does incrimination come from?
The word comes from Latin incriminare, formed from in-, meaning “into” or “upon,” and criminare, meaning “to accuse” or “to condemn.” Its development was influenced by the related English word crime, which also derives from Latin crimen. Incriminate entered English during the early 17th century, initially meaning to accuse or involve someone in a crime, and later developed the associated noun incrimination. Recriminate is a separate English derivative of the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How incrimination is actually used
The word is formal and commonly used in legal, investigative, and journalistic contexts. It can describe either the act of accusing someone or evidence that points toward guilt.
Easily confused with incrimination
Incrimination specifically concerns making someone appear guilty of wrongdoing, whereas implication can mean drawing a conclusion or suggesting something without necessarily involving criminal suspicion.
Incrimination is the broader act or condition of suggesting guilt, while an indictment is a formal legal accusation brought by a court or prosecuting authority.