culpability

noun

cul·​pa·​bil·​i·​ty ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce culpability (audio)
: responsibility for wrongdoing or failure : the quality or state of being culpable
moral/legal/criminal culpability
He refuses to acknowledge his own culpability.
Culpability for our failure to reduce petroleum imports falls across the political spectrum.Gregg Easterbrook

Examples of culpability in a Sentence

cannot find culpability where there is neither knowledge that a crime has been committed nor evidence of intent to commit a crime
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Poppe has been focused on turning around the company’s operations, safety record, and culture, after PG&E’s culpability in the 2018 Camp wildfire put the utility into bankruptcy. Diane Brady, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2024 This is particularly important, given that Israel’s killing of Ismail Haniyeh—who, even with his clear culpability for acts of terrorism, was advocating a cease-fire—may have weakened other proponents of negotiation within Hamas. Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2024 His attorney, Erica Wolff, issued a statement on Oct. 1 denying his culpability in the upcoming wave of suits. William Earl, Variety, 14 Oct. 2024 The initial SolarWinds charges seemed to mirror those for more traditional corporate fraud, in which a company’s CEO or CFO is also personally charged for their culpability and to hold a person accountable. Megan Poinski, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for culpability 

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of culpability was in 1652

Dictionary Entries Near culpability

Cite this Entry

“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culpability. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on culpability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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