English Explanatory Dictionary

mea culpa

English dictionary entry

Meanings

intj
  1. My fault, due to my error; I am to blame.
noun
  1. An instance of mea culpa; an apology.
verb
  1. To apologize for something, especially excessively.

Pronunciation

/ˌmeɪ.əˈkʊl.pə/ /ˌmeɪ.əˈkʌl.pə/ /ˌmiː.əˈkʊl.pə/ /ˌmiː.əˈkʌl.pə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Persent101-mea culpa.wav

Word forms

mea culpa mea culpas mea culpae meis culpis mea culpa's mea culpa'ing mea culpa'ed

Etymology

From the Latin phrase meā culpā (“through my fault”), ablative case of mea culpa (“my fault, guilt”), taken from the Confiteor, a traditional penitential prayer in Western Christianity.

Synonyms

my bad peccavi

Related words

culpable culpate culprit disculp disculpate exculpate inculpate mea maxima culpa I stand corrected
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