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mea culpa

[mey-uh kuhl-puh, mee-uh, me-ah kool-pah] / ˈmeɪ ə ˈkʌl pə, ˈmi ə, ˈmɛ ɑ ˈkʊl pɑ /
INTERJECTION
guilt acknowledgment
Synonyms




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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"You didn't ask for all the flashing lights... I wish I knew the pain I caused," sings Madonna in a rare mea culpa.

From BBC Jul. 2, 2026

We’ve already done one mea culpa this week and don’t want to set ourselves up for another, but: This is supremely unlikely, for basically every reason.

From Slate Jun. 13, 2026

Three months later, I published a mea culpa, in which I renounced my support for Trump and apologized for my hurtful deeds and rhetoric.

From Salon Jun. 8, 2026

San Francisco-based Grammarly didn’t make things any better with a mea culpa posted on LinkedIn by its chief executive, Shishir Mehrotra.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 17, 2026

I'm not blaming anyone for this state of affairs, mind you; nor merely crying mea culpa.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison




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