Word
culpability
Phoneticscul·pa·bil·i·ty, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkəɫpəˈbɪɫɪti/
UK/kˌʌlpəbˈɪlɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the state of being responsible for a crime or a bad mistake. It means you are to blame for something that went wrong.
n. the state of being responsible for a crime or a fault. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe the degree of guilt or liability.
Examples
“The judge decided that the company was not culpable for the accident.”
“After the investigation, the board of directors accepted full culpability for the financial losses suffered by the shareholders.”
“The defense argued that while the defendant was present, there was no evidence of his direct culpability in the planning or execution of the crime.”
Examples
simple
“The judge decided that the company was not culpable for the accident.”
contextual
“After the investigation, the board of directors accepted full culpability for the financial losses suffered by the shareholders.”
complex
“The defense argued that while the defendant was present, there was no evidence of his direct culpability in the planning or execution of the crime.”
Real-World Examples
“It is not surprising there should be zero acknowledgement of any culpability, or even legitimacy to the charges.” “This is in line with the government’s position of resisting the discussion of reparations and not acknowledging culpability for the centuries of trafficking and enslaving.” Etymology
From Middle French culpabilité.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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