culpability
kul-puh-BIL-ih-tee
/ˌkʌlpəˈbɪlɪti/
Responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame.
Refers to the degree to which someone can be held legally or morally responsible. In juvenile law, a child's culpability is often considered lower than an adult's due to brain development.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'culpa,' meaning fault. This root is also found in 'mea culpa' (my fault), a phrase used to admit a mistake.
Word relationships
- guilt: Guilt is the state of having done wrong; culpability is the degree of deserving blame for it.
- innocence: Innocence is the complete lack of blame or guilt.
Commonly confused with
- liability: Liability is often financial or civil; culpability is usually moral or criminal.
Word family
- culpable (adjective): Deserving blame.
- culprit (noun): A person responsible for a crime.
Collocations
- moral culpability
- diminished culpability
- admit culpability
Example sentences
- "The defense argued that the defendant's age reduced his culpability for the crime." Legal argument.
- "Culpability is a measure of the degree to which an agent, such as a person, can be held morally or legally responsible." Philosophical discussion.
Memory hook
Culpability: If you are 'culpable,' you are the 'culprit.' Who is at fault?
When not to use
Don't use for simple accidents where no one is at fault; culpability requires a 'guilty' element.
Fun facts
- The legal phrase 'Mea Culpa' originated in traditional Catholic prayer as an admission of sin.
Related words
Explore more words
culpable, liability, take responsibility, exculpate, dereliction, extenuation
Also appears in
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