Exonerate sailor and find the answer (7)
I believe the answer is:
absolve
'exonerate' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'sailor and find the answer' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'and find' says to put letters next to each other.
'the answer' becomes 'solve' ().
'ab'+'solve'='ABSOLVE'
(Other definitions for absolve that I've seen before include "Exculpate" , "Grant remission of a sin" , "Fully pardon" , "Cleanse" , "Grant remission of sins" .)