culpability

/ˌkʌlpəˈbɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkʌlpəˈbɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē/ (ame, mw)

culpability — noun

1. the degree to which a person can rightly be blamed for an action that caused har

1.名詞C1
釋義

the degree to which a person can rightly be blamed for an action that caused harm, damage, or a serious mistake — often used when judging legal or moral responsibility

例句

The court spent three days weighing Manuela's culpability for the warehouse fire.

culpability for + noun (event causing harm)

Although Owen admitted some culpability, he insisted the senior engineers were also at fault.

admit + some culpability (partial blame)

同義詞
  • blame

    everyday register; 'culpability' is the formal legal/ethical version

  • guilt

    stronger and often emotional; 'culpability' is more analytical and degree-based

  • liability

    focuses on legal or financial responsibility to compensate; 'culpability' focuses on moral wrongdoing

  • fault

    neutral and everyday; 'culpability' implies a judgement has been weighed

反義詞
  • innocence

    complete absence of blame for the wrongdoing in question

文法句型

culpability for + noun

share/admit/deny + culpability

用法筆記

Subject of blame is usually a person, organisation, or institution — not an event or object. More formal than 'blame' or 'fault', and more commonly used in legal proceedings, official inquiries, and journalistic reporting than in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌The storm's culpability for the damage was high.
✅The storm caused most of the damage.
💡Culpability requires a moral or legal agent (usually a person or organisation), not a natural event.
❌He has culpability to finish the report.
✅He has responsibility to finish the report.
💡Culpability refers to blame for something bad already done, not a duty to be carried out.