culpability

noun

cul·​pa·​bil·​i·​ty ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: responsibility for wrongdoing or failure : the quality or state of being culpable

moral/legal/criminal culpability

He refuses to acknowledge his own culpability.

Culpability for our failure to reduce petroleum imports falls across the political spectrum.

—Gregg Easterbrook

Synonyms of culpability

• blame
• guilt

Examples of culpability in a Sentence

cannot find culpability where there is neither knowledge that a crime has been committed nor evidence of intent to commit a crime

Recent Examples on the Web

An assist, a breathtaking last-gasp clearance, and some culpability in the Canadian equalizer. —Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Then, during the criminal proceedings, he was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition, leaving his culpability in doubt. —Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 11 June 2026

The family’s companies have settled many accusations of environmental violations by agreeing to pay fines and invest in better pollution prevention without admitting or denying culpability. —Molly Redden, ProPublica, 8 June 2026

The chain of events that led to this moment is contested, with those involved denying culpability. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for culpability

• affability
• audibility
• bistability
• capability
• changeability
• contractility
• credibility
• disability
• disutility
• durability
• fallibility
• feasibility