culpability
noun
cul·pa·bil·i·ty
ˌkəl-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: responsibility for wrongdoing or failure : the quality or state of being culpable
moral/legal/criminal culpability
He refuses to acknowledge his own culpability.
Culpability for our failure to reduce petroleum imports falls across the political spectrum.—
Gregg Easterbrook
Gregg Easterbrook
Examples of culpability in a Sentence
cannot find culpability where there is neither knowledge that a crime has been committed nor evidence of intent to commit a crime
Recent Examples on the Web
So Assad’s culpability and responsibility are really not even questioned.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024
The prosecution allegedly asserted inconsistent culpability theories by charging the shooter as an adult — he was also sentenced as an adult — while at the same time claiming the mom failed to control her minor child.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2024
Once the cause and culpability are established, the focus will shift to allocating financial responsibility and addressing claims for damages.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Gascon said there was never any question that the brothers carried out the murders but to what degree of culpability should they be held accountable.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for culpability 
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Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024
The prosecution allegedly asserted inconsistent culpability theories by charging the shooter as an adult — he was also sentenced as an adult — while at the same time claiming the mom failed to control her minor child.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2024
Once the cause and culpability are established, the focus will shift to allocating financial responsibility and addressing claims for damages.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Gascon said there was never any question that the brothers carried out the murders but to what degree of culpability should they be held accountable.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for culpability
Dictionary Entries Near culpability
Cite this Entry
“Culpability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culpability. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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