culpable

Culpable is an adjective meaning deserving of blame or responsibility for a fault or wrongdoing. It is used in both moral evaluation and legal contexts. In everyday language, a person may be described as culpable for an error if their actions caused harm and they bear responsibility. The related noun is culpability, the state or quality of being culpable.

The word derives from Latin culpare, “to blame,” via Old French culpable, with culpa meaning “fault” or “blame.”

In law, culpability concerns the degree of blameworthiness of a person. Criminal systems generally assess mental state—intent, knowledge, recklessness, or negligence—and link it to the level of culpability. Some offenses impose liability regardless of fault (strict liability). Phrases such as culpable homicide or culpable negligence emphasize the blamable nature of the conduct. In civil contexts, fault or liability may also be described as culpable if the party breached a duty causing harm. The assessment of culpability can influence the severity of punishment, defenses available, and the moral judgment conveyed by the verdict or decision.

Culpable is often used outside courts to indicate moral responsibility for an action, even when legal liability is not invoked. It remains a judgment of blameworthiness tied to both intent and conduct, reflecting social and legal standards of accountability.