implicate

Everyday

1. To show or suggest that someone is involved in something wrong, such as a crime. tree →
2. (formal) To show that something is a cause or part of a problem: smoking is implicated in many illnesses. tree →
3. (formal, rare) To imply or suggest something. tree →

In the lessons

In detective stories, a clue or a witness implicates a suspect. In science and health news, a germ or habit is «implicated» in an illness when evidence links them. Phrases: be implicated in, implicate someone in a crime, evidence implicates.

Examples

• The muddy footprints implicated the dog in the broken vase mystery. tree →
• The letter implicated the butler in the theft. tree →
• Scientists implicated a virus in the outbreak. tree →
• He refused to say anything that might implicate his friends. tree →
• Sugar is implicated in tooth decay. tree →
• The detective found no evidence to implicate the gardener. tree →

Note

Usually used with «in»: «implicated in the crime». Noun: «implication» — which also means a hidden meaning or a likely result. Being implicated is not the same as being proved guilty.