culpable

adjective cul·pa·ble \ ˈkəl-pə-bəl \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

Definition of culpable

1 archaic : guilty, criminal

2 : meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful

culpable negligence

The defendant is culpable for her actions.

—

culpability

play \ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

culpableness

play \ˈkəl-pə-bəl-nəs\ noun

—

culpably

play \ˈkəl-pə-blē\ adverb

See culpable defined for English-language learners

See culpable defined for kids

Examples of culpable in a Sentence

They held her culpable for the accident.
He's more culpable than the others because he's old enough to know better.

Recent Examples of culpable from the Web

The charges from that warrant: battery and culpable negligence.

— jordan mcpherson, miamiherald, "A former Dolphin had a warrant out for his arrest. Police found him in Orange County | Miami Herald," 8 May 2018
The charges against Raja — manslaughter by culpable negligence while armed and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm — marked the first time since 1993 that a cop in Palm Beach County was charged in an on-duty killing.

— marc freeman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Prosecutors will urge judge not to toss charges against former cop in Corey Jones deadly shooting," 4 May 2018
Pistorius was initially found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to six years in prison.

— johnny dodd, PEOPLE.com, "Oscar Pistorius' Plea to Reduce Prison Sentence for Murdering Girlfriend Denied by Court," 10 Apr. 2018
To be sure, the enforcement action still leaves something to be desired (specifically, the sight of culpable Wells Fargo executives in handcuffs).

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Regulators Fine Wells Fargo $1 Billion for Abusing Consumers," 20 Apr. 2018
Aaron Ramsey and Wilshere were both culpable in the first 15 minutes.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "Aubameyang brace leads late Arsenal win over Stoke," 1 Apr. 2018
Goalkeeping has been a significant issue for Arsene Wenger's men this term, with Cech culpable of six errors which have led directly to goals.

— SI.com, "German Report Claims Arsenal Face April Race to Snap Up Bernd Leno on Cut-Price Deal," 31 Mar. 2018
The British government has asserted that the Russian government is responsible for the chemical weapon attack on Sergei V. Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, and that President Vladimir Putin may have been personally culpable.

— author: richard pérez peña, Anchorage Daily News, "Expelling Russians, Europe and North America show unity with U.K.," 27 Mar. 2018
These men are only part of the problem; the organizations that protect them are equally culpable (see first news item below).

— valentina zarya, Fortune, "Larry Nasser, Red Cross, Jessica Chastain: Broadsheet for Jan. 26," 26 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'culpable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of culpable

Middle English coupable, from Anglo-French cupable, culpable, from Latin culpabilis, from culpare to blame, from culpa guilt

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

culpable Synonyms

Phrases

at fault;

Synonym Discussion of culpable

blameworthy, blamable, guilty, culpable mean deserving reproach or punishment. blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

- conduct adjudged blameworthy
- an accident for which no one is blamable

guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

- guilty of a breach of etiquette

culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

- culpable neglect

CULPABLE Defined for English Language Learners

culpable

adjective

Definition of culpable for English Language Learners

: deserving blame : guilty of doing something wrong

Law Dictionary

culpable

adjective cul·pa·ble \ ˈkəl-pə-bəl \

legal Definition of culpable

: deserving condemnation or blame as wrong or harmful

—

culpability

play \ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

culpableness

noun

—

culpably

adverb

Learn More about culpable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for culpable Spanish Central: Translation of culpable Nglish: Translation of culpable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of culpable for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up culpable? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

culpable

Definition of culpable

culpability

culpableness

culpably

Examples of culpable in a Sentence

Recent Examples of culpable from the Web

Origin and Etymology of culpable

culpable Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Synonym Discussion of culpable

Phrases Related to CULPABLE

Related Phrases

CULPABLE Defined for English Language Learners

culpable

Definition of culpable for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

culpable

legal Definition of culpable

culpability

culpableness

culpably

Learn More about culpable

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

9 Words from the Magical Realm

A Field Guide to British Noble Titles

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word