What does incriminatory mean?
The adjective “incriminatory” describes evidence, testimony, documents, or statements that tend to show that someone is guilty of a crime or other wrongdoing. It is especially associated with legal investigations, courts, and criminal reporting, although it can also be used more generally for comments or allegations that cast serious doubt on someone’s conduct. The word is stronger and more formal than “suspicious,” because it implies that the information creates or strengthens a connection to wrongdoing rather than merely appearing unusual. “Incriminatory evidence” is a common expression, as are “incriminatory testimony” and the intensifier “highly incriminatory.” The adjective should not be confused with “discriminatory,” which describes unfair treatment or bias, or with the participial adjective “incriminating,” which is more commonly used directly with a person: an incriminating statement may be one that makes its speaker appear guilty.
adjectiveTending to show or imply that someone is guilty of wrongdoing. Used especially of evidence, statements, or other information presented in a legal or investigative context.
- Tending to imply or establish that a person is guilty of wrongdoing.
"The witness gave a detailed but highly incriminatory account of the suspect's movements."
"The newly discovered messages were considered incriminatory by the investigators."
"Rather than a neutral account, the article offered a series of highly incriminatory claims."
Incriminatory means more than merely suspicious: it describes information that points toward guilt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does incriminatory come from?
“Incriminatory” comes from “incriminate,” which was formed in the early 17th century from Latin elements meaning “into” and “to accuse or criminate.” Its ultimate source is the Latin “crimen,” meaning “offence” or “crime.” The family later developed into related forms including “incrimination,” while words such as “criminal,” “crime,” and “criminology” continue to reflect the same Roman legal root.
Related word forms
How incriminatory is actually used
Most common in legal, investigative, and journalistic contexts. It is more formal than words such as “damning” and generally implies that something provides evidence of wrongdoing.
Easily confused with incriminatory
“Incriminating” is a verb or participle describing the act of making someone appear guilty, whereas “incriminatory” is an adjective describing evidence or statements that tend to imply guilt.
“Discriminatory” means unfairly biased against a person or group, while “incriminatory” means suggestive of wrongdoing.