Exculpation

ex·cul·pate  (kskl-pt, k-skl-)

tr.v. ex·cul·pat·ed, ex·cul·pat·ing, ex·cul·pates

To clear of guilt or blame.

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[Medieval Latin exculpre, exculpt- : Latin ex-, ex- + Latin culpa, guilt.]

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ex·culpa·ble (k-sklp-bl) adj.

excul·pation n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	exculpation - a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable" excuse, self-justification, alibi vindication, defense, defence - the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory" extenuation, mitigation - a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
	2.	exculpation - the act of freeing from guilt or blame pardon, forgiveness - the act of excusing a mistake or offense