phrase
Latin
Mea Culpa
lit. โthrough my faultโ
An explicit admission of fault.
Origin
From the Catholic confessional prayer: 'mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.' Entered general English as a public-apology phrase.
Modern usage
Common in editorial corrections ('mea culpa: the original article misstatedโฆ') and political non-apologies.
Tags
apology
fault