Join In Twitter YouTube Weekly Newsletter Libraries A-Z Grammatical Terms A-Z Confused Words FAQs by Writers A-Z Awkward Plurals Punctuation Lessons Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser

"mea culpa" (Latin)

by Craig Shrives

What does the Latin term mea culpa mean?

"Mea culpa" is a Latin phrase that translates to "my fault" or "my mistake." It is an expression used to admit one's own wrongdoing or to take responsibility for an error or failure. This phrase is often used to express sincere remorse, apology, or self-blame. "Mea culpa" is commonly used in various contexts, such as personal apologies, professional settings, or public statements, to acknowledge one's culpability and show a willingness to accept the consequences or make amends for the mistake.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three example sentences demonstrating the usage of "mea culpa":

I deeply regret my actions and want to express my sincere mea culpa for the harm caused.
In the press conference, the CEO issued a public mea culpa for the company's failure to meet customer expectations.
After reflecting on my behavior, I realize that I was wrong. I want to offer my mea culpa to those I have hurt and work to make things right.

Previous and Next Terms

Test Your Knowledge of Latin Terms

Ready for the Test?

More Latin Terms

Help Us Improve Grammar Monster

Do you disagree with something on this page?
Did you spot a typo?

Find Us Quicker!

When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Grammar Monster quicker if you add #gm to your search term.

Suitable for: Teachers, advanced students, and business writers.

Description: Published by London's Octopus Publishing, "Smashing Grammar" is the third, and most comprehensive, grammar reference book written by Craig Shrives (the founder of the Grammar-Monster.com). It is divided into three sections: