Culpa

/ˈkʊlpə/ noun

Definition

Fault or blame, especially used in the Latin phrase 'mea culpa' meaning 'my fault' to admit responsibility for something wrong.

Etymology

From Latin 'culpa' meaning 'blame' or 'fault.' The word appears in legal and religious contexts throughout English history, particularly in the phrase 'mea culpa,' which became famous through the Catholic confession tradition.

Kelly Says

The phrase 'mea culpa' became a cultural shorthand for honest admission of wrongdoing—it's so powerful that even non-Latin speakers use it, and it suggests that some ancient Roman concepts of accountability never go out of style.

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