culpa levis in abstracto

noun

culpa levis in ab·​strac·​to

-ˌinəbzˈtrak(ˌ)tō,

-ˌiˌnab-,

-bˈst-

Roman & civil law

: ordinary negligence arising from the failure to exercise the very high degree of care that men of good business or very prudent persons would exercise under all the circumstances

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, slight negligence in the abstract

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now