culpable negligence
1
8.8
- noun
- /ˈkʌlpəbl ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns/
- Formal
:
negligencia culpable
- The jury determined that the hospital's culpable negligence led to the patient's deterioration during treatment.
Examples
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It was culpable negligence.
Blog text (10) -
The driver was found guilty of culpable negligence after causing the accident due to their reckless behavior.
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In the case of the building collapse, the contractor was charged with culpable negligence for failing to ensure safety protocols were followed.
Synonyms
80
6.5
Failure to take proper care that causes harm or loss
16
2.8
Lack of attention that causes mistakes or accidents
4
7.5
Serious carelessness that puts other people at risk of harm or death
Antonyms
How Negligent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'blameworthy failure to take proper care' is directly compositional from 'culpable' (at fault/blameworthy) + 'negligence' (failure to exercise care). Although the phrase is legal/technical in register, the adjective–noun combination is predictable and mirrors similar constructions in many languages, so a learner who knows both constituents will understand it.
Etymology
Culpable negligence joins culpable, meaning 'to blame', and negligence, meaning 'not taking care'; picture a guard who sees a broken bridge and does nothing while people cross. That's why the phrase means 'being legally at fault for serious carelessness'.