blame

The word “blame” means responsibility for something bad, or the act of holding someone responsible for it. In plain terms, saying (or deciding) that someone or something is responsible for something bad.

“Blame” is pronounced blaym (/bleɪm/ in IPA).

Here is “blame” used in a sentence: “She took the blame for the mistake even though it wasn't entirely her fault.”

Words with a similar meaning to “blame” include accuse, atwite, bumble, challenge, cop out and decry.

The opposite of “blame” — its antonyms — are absolve, acquit, disculpate and forgive.

Depending on how it is used, “blame” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “blame” comes from Latin. From Old French blasmer, going back through Latin to Greek blasphēmeîn — the same root that gives us "blaspheme.".

“Blame” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

Responsibility is neutral — it simply means being the person accountable for something, good or bad. Blame is negative: it singles someone out as the cause of something that went wrong. You can take responsibility for a project's success, but you take the blame only when it fails.

Fault is the flaw or error itself — the actual cause of a problem. Blame is the act of assigning that fault to a person. If a mistake is your fault, others may place the blame on you. One names the cause; the other points the finger.

Yes. Blame almost always carries a negative charge, since it involves holding someone answerable for something bad. Being blamed feels like an accusation. Its positive counterparts are credit and praise, which assign responsibility for good outcomes rather than failures or mistakes.

The opposite is credit or praise — assigning responsibility for something good rather than something bad. Where blame points to fault and failure, credit points to achievement and success. To 'take the credit' is the mirror image of 'taking the blame.'