culpable Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious
    blameable; blameworthy; censurable; blamable; blameful.
    • blameworthy if not criminal behavior
    • censurable misconduct
    • culpable negligence

WordNet

Cul"pa*ble adjective
Etymology
OE. culpable, coulpable, coupable, F. coupable, formerly also coupable, formerly also coulpable, culpable, fr. L. culpabilis, fr. culpare to blame, fr. culpa fault.
Definitions
  1. Deserving censure; worthy of blame; faulty; immoral; criminal. State Trials (1413).
    If he acts according to the best reason he hath, he is not culpable, though he be mistaken in his measures. Sharp.
  2. Guilty; as, clpable of a crime. Obs. Spenser. -- Cul"pa*ble*ness, n. -- Cul"pa*bly, adv.

Webster 1913