Standard Lemma guide

culpa

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK, US: /ˈkʊlpə/
  • UK, US: /ˈkʌlpə/
  • rhymes with -ʊlpə
  • rhymes with -ʌlpə
  • homophone: kalpa (one pronunciation)
  • CMU ARPABET: K AH1 L P AH0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Negligence or fault, as distinguishable from dolus (deceit, fraud), which implies intent, culpa being imputable to defect of intellect, dolus to defect of heart.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ancient-Rome

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin culpa.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: tuottamus — negligence or fault