mea culpa
noun
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Mea culpa, which means "through my fault" in Latin, comes from a prayer of confession in the Catholic Church. Said by itself, it's an exclamation of apology or remorse that is used to mean "It was my fault" or "I apologize." Mea culpa is also a noun, however. A newspaper might issue a mea culpa for printing inaccurate information, or a politician might give a speech making mea culpas for past wrongdoings. Mea culpa is one of many English terms that derive from the Latin culpa, meaning "guilt." Some other examples are culpable ("meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful"), culprit ("one guilty of a crime or a fault"), and exculpate ("to clear from alleged fault or guilt").
Examples of mea culpa in a Sentence
W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
Unlike Thomas, my mea culpa to Yale can’t tape my Yale sheepskin back together.
—Paul Keane, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2025
The mea culpa came after the broadcast cameras caught Boone grabbing his crotch with gusto and pulling down while making an o-shape with his mouth before taking a bow at the end of his his song.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Feb. 2025
Prominent figures, such as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., are going with a mea culpa, saying the party is partially to blame for Trump's success.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mea culpa
Cite this Entry
“Mea culpa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mea%20culpa. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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