Definition of CULPRIT

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We would be culpable if we didn't clearly explain the origins behind culprit. Yes, it is related to culpable, which itself derives from Latin culpare, meaning "to blame," via Middle English and Anglo-French. But the etymology of culprit is not so straightforward. In Anglo-French, culpable meant "guilty," and this was abbreviated "cul." in legal briefs and texts. Culprit was formed by combining this abbreviation with prest, prit, meaning "ready"-that is, ready to prove an accusation. Literally, then, a culprit was one who was ready to be proven guilty. English then borrowed the word for one accused of a wrongdoing.

Examples of culprit in a Sentence

The police eventually located the culprits. the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime

Recent Examples on the Web

Workers’ rights groups have zeroed in on the tipped minimum wage as one culprit in America’s growing income inequality. — Alexia Fernández Campbell, Vox, "DC repealed a ballot measure giving restaurant workers a raise. But it might be back.," 12 Dec. 2018 You are given the responsibility of, after having just been subjected to devastating trauma, navigating impossible protocols, lest you be charged as the culprit in your own attack. — Amandla Stenberg, Teen Vogue, "Amandla Stenberg Writes About Her Sexual Assaults," 6 Oct. 2018 The biggest culprit is Germany, Europe's richest nation and Trump's favorite target for anger. — Michael Birnbaum, chicagotribune.com, "Ahead of summit, allies wonder: Will NATO survive Trump?," 9 July 2018 The biggest culprit is Germany, Europe’s richest nation and Trump’s favorite target for anger. — Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, "Ahead of NATO summit, allies wonder: Will NATO survive Trump?," 8 July 2018 Seams in leggings or shorts can often be the biggest culprits of friction and chafing in the thighs. — Louise Green, SELF, "5 Tips for Avoiding Inner-Thigh Chafing This Summer," 5 July 2018 Perhaps unsurprisingly to regular listeners of the morning radio traffic roundups, the Beltway is the biggest culprit. — Colin Campbell, baltimoresun.com, "'The traffic is horrible': Baltimore commute ranks among nation's longest," 18 June 2018 But perhaps the biggest culprit is that The Last Jedi came out five months ago. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "With Solo, Has Star Wars Fatigue Set In?," 29 May 2018 Upholstered furniture, with its highly flammable foam padding, are the biggest culprit in house fires that get out of control, according to a spokesperson for the National Association Of State Fire Marshals. — Candace Braun Davison, House Beautiful, "These Popular Home Trends Can Be A Huge Fire Hazard," 29 May 2018

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