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We would be culpable—that is, deserving of blame—if we didn’t clearly explain the origin of culprit. Yes, it is related to culpable, which itself comes (via Middle English and Anglo-French) from the Latin verb culpare, meaning “to blame.” But the etymology of culprit is not so straightforward. In Anglo-French, culpable meant “guilty,” and this was abbreviated “cul.” in legal briefs and texts. Culprit was formed by combining this abbreviation with the Anglo-French word prest or prit, meaning “ready”; literally, a culprit was one who was ready to be proven guilty. The word was eventually adopted into English and used to refer to someone who is accused of a wrongdoing. The word has since taken on an additional meaning: “the source or cause of a problem.”
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Examples of culprit in a Sentence
Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Despite Kelly wanting to place blame on the city's first out lesbian fire chief, most experts agree that climate change is the culprit behind the increasing volatility, size, and frequency of wildfires.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 9 Jan. 2025
The company conducted an extensive investigation and found that its beef patties were not the culprit; rather, onions from one of its suppliers were contaminated with E.coli bacteria.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Instead, a long-term shortage of affordable housing is the main culprit, as the CEA itself notes.
—Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near culprit
Cite this Entry
“Culprit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culprit. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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culprit
noun
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