an accusation that you are responsible for some lapse or misdeed; "his incrimination was based on my testimony"; "the police laid the blame on on the driver"
the civil right (guaranteed by the 5th amendment to the United States Constitution) to refuse to answer questions or otherwise give testimony against yourself
If something incriminates you, it suggests that you are responsible for something bad, especially a crime. He claimed that the drugs had been planted to incriminate him They are afraid of incriminating themselves and say no more than is necessary. + incriminating in·crimi·nat·ing Police had reportedly searched his flat and found incriminating evidence. to make someone seem guilty of a crime incriminate yourself (past participle of incriminare, from crimen; CRIME)
In criminal law, the giving of evidence that might tend to expose the witness to punishment for a crime. The term is generally used in relation to the privilege of refusing to give such evidence. In some continental European countries (e.g., Germany), a person fearing self-incrimination may make his own decision as to whether or not he will testify. In Anglo-American practice, a person other than an accused cannot refuse to testify; he may only cite his privilege against self-incrimination, and the judge then decides whether he must testify. If required to testify, he must answer all questions except those he considers to be self-incriminating. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution contains a provision that protects a person from being compelled to make self-incriminating statements, one intention being to prevent coercion of testimony. See also rights of the accused; exclusionary rule