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The definition of mea culpa translates literally from Latin as through my fault. It’s meant to be an interjection, an admission of wrongdoing or an expression of guilt over something you’ve done. It’s like saying, “Oops, my bad,” but with a touch more elegance and a sprinkle of ancient Roman flare.
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May 13, 2019 · Mea culpa, the street I forgot to sweep. Mea culpa, care packages washed ashore. Mea culpa, my desire to ask for more. Outside of literature, people use it to apologize or to take responsibility for a wrong. Let’s look at two examples. The first is a personal statement by an individual.
noun. Definition of mea culpa. Synonyms for mea culpa. The mayor's public mea culpa didn't satisfy his critics. Weinstein wrote in his mea culpa to The Times last week. — Jeet Heer, New Republic, 12 Oct. 2017. So, in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, the league issued a formal mea culpa. — Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 18 Aug. 2022.
Mea culpa is one of many English terms that derive from the Latin culpa, meaning "guilt." Some other examples are culpable ("meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful"), culprit ("one guilty of a crime or a fault"), and exculpate ("to clear from alleged fault or guilt").
Sep 2, 2022 · “Mea culpa” originates from a prayer of confession in the Catholic Church, but it’s now used in a more general sense to admit that something was your fault or to refer to a formal acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Examples: Mea culpa in a sentence Mea culpa! I accidentally broke your favorite. cup.
Feb 28, 2022 · It serves as an admission of guilt and an apology. It's a common term in Latin-American communities on the west coast and New York's Italian neighborhoods. The phrase means that you are sorry for your actions, and you apologize to the other person for the trouble caused.
Jul 21, 2022 · Throughout Ancient Rome, the most common way to admit you’re guilty of something was to say “mea culpa.” “Mea” (meo/mea/mei) means “my” (belonging to me), while “culpa” means “fault.”. To say this phrase meant to admit your fault and apologize for what you did.
