culpa
Roman forum accusation
Culpa is Latin for fault or blame, appearing in English primarily in legal and philosophical contexts.
In law, it distinguishes degrees of negligence: culpa lata (gross fault), culpa levis (slight fault).
The phrase mea culpa acknowledges personal responsibility—literally "my fault"—and has become a standard way to admit error: The CEO issued a mea culpa for the data breach.
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
self-reproach · confession · repentance · compunction · self-condemnation · conscience · guilty conscience · moral burden
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
pardon · apology · reparation · expiation · forgiveness · reconciliation · contrition · satisfaction
Claim someone did wrong
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- incriminationSuggesting someone's guilt
indictment · allegation · reproach · condemnation · censure · criticism · disapproval · rebuke
Failure to exercise care
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- mens reaBlameworthy mental state
- criminal intentGuilty state of mind
- tortActionable civil harm
damages · malpractice · gross negligence · breach · malfeasance · recklessness · manslaughter · criminal liability
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
regret · self-reproach · confession · repentance · compunction · self-condemnation · conscience · guilty conscience · moral burden · wrongdoing
penance
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
absolution · pardon · apology · reparation · expiation · forgiveness · reconciliation · contrition · satisfaction · indulgence
accusation
Claim someone did wrong
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
incrimination · indictment · allegation · reproach · condemnation · censure · criticism · disapproval · rebuke · admonishment
negligence
Failure to exercise care
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- mens reaBlameworthy mental state
- criminal intentGuilty state of mind
tort · damages · malpractice · gross negligence · breach · malfeasance · recklessness · manslaughter · criminal liability · civil liability
- conciencia y éticamoral, bien, mal, decision
- Latin Legal Termsbona fide, caveat emptor, de facto, de jure, in absentia
- Roman LawRoman law, Corpus Juris Civilis, Justinian Code, Twelve Tables, Digest
- faultfault, gross negligence, criminal negligence, recklessness, carelessness
- Roman Tortsdelict
- Direitolei, crime, civil, penal
culpainnocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
blamelessness · faultlessness · guiltlessness · exoneration · absolution
culpainnocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
grace · redemption · forgiveness · salvation · sanctity
- mea culpaAcknowledgment of personal blame
- moral culpabilityDeserved blame for wrongdoing
culprit, culpable, culpability, mea culpa, exculpate, exculpatory, exculpation, inculpate, inculpation