mea culpa
Say it: MAY-uh KUL-puh /ˌmeɪə ˈkʊlpə/ · noun
What “mea culpa” means
An admission that something was your fault.
Example: “The CEO issued a public mea culpa after the data leak.”
When to use it
Use it when someone openly accepts blame for a mistake. It can sound formal, or playfully grand for small mishaps.
Memory trick
Latin for “through my fault”: imagine pointing at yourself and accepting blame.
Similar words
apology, admission of guilt, confession
Where it comes from
Latin, 'through my fault', from a Catholic prayer of confession.
Quick check
After ruining the group booking, Sam says, “That was entirely my mistake.” What kind of statement is this?
a mea culpa or an excuse?
Show the answer
a mea culpa
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “mea culpa”