Added 9 October 2026
implicate
/ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/ verb
Latin root: implicātus First recorded: 15th century Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about implicate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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To show to be connected or involved in an unfavorable or criminal way.
The evidence implicates involvement of top management in the scheme.
-
To imply, to have as a necessary consequence or accompaniment.
What did Nixon's visit to China implicate for Russia?
- To imply without entailing; to have as an implicature.
noun
adjective
Origin
First attested in the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicaten (poorly attested), from implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; involved, connected (with)”, possibly also used as the past participle of implicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin implicātus, perfect passive participle of implicō (“to entangle, involve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from plicō (“to fold”). Doublet of imply and employ.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)