impute

/ɪmˈpjut/

/ɪmˈpjut/

Other forms: imputed; imputing; imputes

The verb impute can be used to blame someone for doing something bad, give credit for good work, or just tell it like it is, like when you impute your lateness to my not telling you where to meet me.

When you impute something, you name the cause of something that has happened. For example, you might impute your ability to sing well to the thousands of dollars your parents spent in voice lessons. In other words, you name the source. You can also impute a person, like imputing to a teacher your love of learning — he or she helped you become more interested in school and your classes.

Definitions of impute

1. verb

   attribute or credit to
   “People impute great cleverness to cats”

   synonyms: ascribe, assign, attribute

   types:

   carnalise, carnalize, sensualise, sensualize

   ascribe to an origin in sensation

   credit

   give someone credit for something

   reattribute

   attribute to another source

   anthropomorphise, anthropomorphize

   ascribe human features to something

   personate, personify

   attribute human qualities to something

   accredit, credit

   ascribe an achievement to

   blame, charge

   attribute responsibility to

   externalise, externalize, project

   regard as objective

   interiorise, interiorize, internalise, internalize

   incorporate within oneself; make subjective or personal

   type of:

   evaluate, judge, pass judgment

   form a critical opinion of
2. verb

   attribute (responsibility or fault) to a cause or source
   “The teacher imputed the student's failure to his nervousness”

   synonyms:

   ascribe, assign, attribute

   attribute or credit to

   type of:

   ascribe, assign, attribute

   attribute or credit to