culpable homicide

IPA/ˌkʌlpəbl ˈhɒmɪsaɪd/
IPA/ˌkʌlpəbl ˈhɑːmɪsaɪd/

culpable homicide — noun

1. the criminal offence of causing a person's death through reckless or negligent a

1.nounC2
Definition

the criminal offence of causing a person's death through reckless or negligent actions, where there was no plan or desire to kill

Example

The driver was convicted of culpable homicide after falling asleep at the wheel.

passive: be convicted of culpable homicide

Inspector Adebayo charged the factory owner with culpable homicide following the roof collapse.

Common collocations
  • convict of culpable homicide
  • charge with culpable homicide
  • face culpable homicide charges
  • culpable homicide case
  • guilty of culpable homicide
Synonyms
  • manslaughter

    used in English and American law; the closest equivalent but divided into voluntary and involuntary categories

  • negligent homicide

    used in some US states; narrower, applying only when death results from a failure to exercise reasonable care

Antonyms
  • murder

    intentional killing; the key distinction is the presence of intent to kill or cause serious harm

Usage Note

Distinguish from murder: murder requires proof of intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm. Culpable homicide covers deaths caused by reckless or negligent actions where no such intent existed. In some legal systems (e.g. Scotland, India), it also encompasses what other jurisdictions call manslaughter.

Common Mistakes

The company director was found guilty of murder after the safety failure.
The company director was found guilty of culpable homicide after the safety failure.
murder requires proof of intent to kill; culpable homicide applies when death results from recklessness or negligence without intent.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Culpable homicide is a legal term used primarily in Scotland, India, and South Africa. It covers unlawful killings that lack the intent required for murder. Manslaughter, used in English and American law, is the closest equivalent — both describe killing without malice aforethought. However, manslaughter is often divided into voluntary (provoked) and involuntary (reckless or negligent) categories, while culpable homicide is typically a single broader offence. Negligent homicide is narrower: it applies only when death results from a failure to exercise reasonable care, whereas culpable homicide can include reckless acts that fall short of intent. Murder stands at the opposite end — it requires proof of intention to kill or cause serious harm, making it the most serious homicide offence. For example, a driver who kills a pedestrian while speeding would likely face culpable homicide charges, not murder, because there was no desire to cause death.

manslaughter ↗negligent homicide ↗murder ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • culpable homicide charge
  • culpable homicide case
  • culpable homicide conviction

Phrases

  • guilty of culpable homicide
  • trial for culpable homicide

Prepositions

  • culpable homicide of [person]
  • charge with culpable homicide
  • convict of culpable homicide

Etymology

LatinScots LawEnglish

The term combines 'culpable' (from Latin culpabilis, meaning 'blameworthy' or 'deserving punishment', rooted in culpa, 'fault') with 'homicide' (from Latin homicidium, combining homo, 'human being', and caedere, 'to kill'). As a distinct legal category, culpable homicide emerged in Scots law and was later adopted in other common-law jurisdictions, notably India and South Africa.