Legal Definitions - absolve

Absolve

To absolve someone means to formally declare them free from a duty, a financial obligation, or the consequences of wrongdoing.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a situation where a university student, facing a sudden family emergency, needs to withdraw from a course after the official deadline. If the university administration reviews their case and decides to absolve them of the usual financial penalty for late withdrawal, it means they are released from the obligation to pay that specific fee.

  This example demonstrates how someone can be released from a financial obligation due to extenuating circumstances.

• Consider a scenario where a company initiates an internal investigation into an employee accused of violating workplace policy. After reviewing all the evidence, if the investigation concludes that the employee did not commit the alleged misconduct, the company would then absolve the employee, clearing their name and freeing them from any potential disciplinary actions or penalties.

  Here, the term illustrates being freed from the penalties or consequences of alleged wrongdoing.

• In a more personal context, if a friend borrowed a small sum of money and later faced unexpected financial hardship, another friend might say, "Don't worry about paying me back; I absolve you of that debt." This means the lender is releasing the borrower from their obligation to repay the money.

  This example shows how someone can be released from a debt or financial responsibility, even in an informal setting.