noun
mea culpa
may-uh KUUL-puh
Mea culpa (noun) means an open admission that you were at fault, especially one made publicly. Example: “The chief executive's letter to shareholders was a lengthy mea culpa.”
noun
1
An open admission that you were at fault, especially one made publicly.
"The chief executive's letter to shareholders was a lengthy mea culpa."
"After the figures were corrected, the paper published a full mea culpa."
interjection
1
Said to accept blame for something, often lightly.
"Mea culpa, I booked the room for the wrong day."
How to use mea culpa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAdmitting openly that something was your fault.
When to use it
Formal or literary, and common in journalism and politics. Used ironically in casual speech for small mistakes.
Memory tip
An apologia is a defence of your position, not an admission of guilt, so it is close to the opposite of a mea culpa.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
issue a mea culpa
public mea culpa
full mea culpa
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Etymology
From Latin mea culpa 'through my own fault', from the Confiteor prayer of the Roman rite.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mea culpa
See all rhymes for mea culpa →Frequently asked questions
What does mea culpa literally mean?
It is Latin for "through my fault" and comes from the Confiteor, a prayer of confession in the Latin Mass in which the speaker admits wrongdoing.
What is the difference between a mea culpa and an apology?
An apology expresses regret to someone; a mea culpa specifically accepts the blame. A statement can apologise for an outcome without ever admitting fault, which is why a genuine mea culpa carries more weight.
What is the plural of mea culpa?
In English it is mea culpas. The Latin plural is not used.
What is the meaning of mea culpa?
"mea culpa" (noun) means an open admission that you were at fault, especially one made publicly.
