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culpable

KUL-puh-buhl /ˈkʌl.pə.bəl/

adjectiveC1GRELSATSAT

formallegal

Deserving blame or considered responsible for a specified wrongdoing, fault, or error.

Implies fault or blameworthiness, whether through careless oversight or deliberate wrongdoing.

The story behind the word. From Anglo-Norman culpable, derived from Latin culpabilis, from culpa ('fault or blame'). In medieval law courts, pleading 'culpable' meant acknowledging fault.

Word relationships

blameworthy: Blameworthy is a plain English term; culpable is the formal legal term denoting fault.
guilty: Guilty implies conviction of a crime, whereas culpable broadly covers fault in civil or moral contexts.

blameless: Blameless means completely free of fault or responsibility.
innocent: Innocent means free from guilt or wrongdoing.

Commonly confused with

exculpable: Culpable means deserving blame; exculpable (or exculpatory) serves to clear someone from blame.

Word family

culpability (noun): The state of deserving blame
exculpate (verb): To show or declare that someone is not guilty
inculpate (verb): To accuse or involve in guilt

Collocations

culpable negligence
culpable homicide
deemed culpable
found culpable

Example sentences

"The court found the site supervisor culpable for ignoring mandatory safety protocols prior to the collapse." Criminal law prosecution
"Both executives were deemed culpable for failing to disclose financial conflicts of interest." Ethics committee decision

Memory hook

CULPable = CULPRIT who deserves blame. Deserving blame like a culprit.

When not to use

Do not use for innocent mistakes where no fault or negligence can be attributed.

Fun facts

The phrase 'mea culpa' (Latin for 'my fault') comes directly from the same root culpa.