to attribute or ascribe (something dishonest or dishonourable, esp a criminal offence) to a person to attribute to a source or cause: I impute your success to nepotism to give (a notional value) to goods or services when the real value is unknown
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
im•pute /ɪmˈpyut/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object + to + object], -put•ed, -put•ing.
im•pu•ta•tion /ˌɪmpyʊˈteɪʃən/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]See -pute-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to believe that someone has (a quality, etc.):The children imputed magical powers to the old woman.
- to believe that someone or something is responsible for (something); to attribute (something) to someone or something:The critics imputed the failure of the play to the director.
im•pu•ta•tion /ˌɪmpyʊˈteɪʃən/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]See -pute-.
im•pute
(im pyo̅o̅t′),USA pronunciation v.t., -put•ed, -put•ing.
im•put′a•ble, adj.
im•put•a•tive
(im pyo̅o̅′tə tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
im•put′a•tive•ly, adv.
im•put′a•tive•ness, n.
im•put′ed•ly, adv.
im•put′er, n.
- to attribute or ascribe:The children imputed magical powers to the old woman.
- to attribute or ascribe (something discreditable), as to a person.
- Lawmakingto ascribe to or charge (a person) with an act or quality because of the conduct of another over whom one has control or for whose acts or conduct one is responsible.
- [Theol.]to attribute (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person or persons vicariously; ascribe as derived from another.
- [Obs.]to charge (a person) with fault.
- Latin imputāre, equivalent. to im- im-1 + putāre to assess, reckon, think; see putative
- Middle English imputen 1325–75
im•put′a•tive•ness, n.
im•put′ed•ly, adv.
im•put′er, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See attribute.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'impute' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):