a word a day

I always heard of this word on the tv, movie or downloaded US series, where a good person was framed for something bad/wrong that he/her didn't do, gone through a great ordeal, but finally good prevails and he/she is cleared of the accusation. So, what is the word for this?

Just before today, I don't even know how to spell the word, only know how it sounds like. Therefore, I look up the dictionary, and finally found the exact spelling at first try, what an accomplishment =) quite a tongue twister too, I think =)

The word is exonerate