Blame Definition

blām
blamed, blames, blaming
verb
blamed, blames, blaming
To consider responsible for a misdeed, failure, or undesirable outcome.
Blamed the coach for the loss; blamed alcohol for his bad behavior.
American Heritage
To accuse of being at fault; condemn (for something); censure.
Webster's New World
To find fault with; criticize.
I can't blame you for wanting your fair share.
American Heritage
To find fault with (for something)
Webster's New World
To place responsibility for (something).
Blamed the crisis on poor planning.
American Heritage
noun
blames
The state of being responsible for a fault or error; culpability.
American Heritage
The act of blaming; accusation; condemnation; censure.
Webster's New World
Censure; condemnation.
American Heritage
Responsibility for a fault or wrong.
Webster's New World
Blameworthiness; fault.
Webster's New World
idiom
to blame
  • Deserving censure or disapproval; at fault:

    an investigation to determine who was to blame for the leak.

  • Being the cause or source of something:

    A freak storm was to blame for the power outage.

American Heritage
be to blame
  • to be blamable; be at fault
Webster's New World

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Blame

Origin of Blame

  • Middle English blamen from Old French blasmer, blamer from Vulgar Latin blastēmāre alteration of Late Latin blasphēmāre to reproach blaspheme

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English, from Old French blasmer, from Late Latin blasphēmō (“to reproach, to revile”). Compare blaspheme

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English, from Old French blasme

    From Wiktionary

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