impute
impute Lexical Profile
impute Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To represent or regard (especially something undesirable, such as a fault, crime, or bad motive) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; to attribute or ascribe.
"It would be unfair to impute sinister motives to her actions without any concrete evidence."
To assign an estimated value to something by inference from the value of similar items or processes, or to replace missing data with substituted values (in economics, finance, and statistics).
"The statisticians had to impute the missing household income figures based on regional demographic averages."
To ascribe the righteousness or guilt of one person to another vicariously (in Christian theology).
"According to the doctrine, Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers through faith."
Word Nuance & Usage
Unlike 'attribute' or 'ascribe', which are neutral, 'impute' most commonly carries a negative connotation in general usage, used when assigning blame, fault, or ulterior motives to someone.
• Rhymes for impute
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English via Old French 'imputer' from Latin 'imputare', meaning 'to enter into the account' or 'charge to', formed from 'in-' (into, upon) and 'putare' (to reckon, prune, or think).