culpable negligence

phrase

formal, law
: negligence that is regarded as a crime
The defendant is charged with culpable negligence.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Culpable negligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culpable%20negligence. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Legal Definition

culpable negligence

noun
: criminal negligence at negligence
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster