From Anglo-Norman - ''cul.

• IPA: /ˈkʌlpɹɪt/

culprit (plural culprits)

1. The person or thing at fault for a problem or crime.

   I have tightened the loose bolt that was the culprit; it should work now.

   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC ↗, page 145 ↗:

     Another sits beneath the purple canopy—a lady, but alone. The diadem is on her cold and haughty brow; there is no pity in her stern aspect, and the smile on her lip bodes death. Before her stands the lovely culprit, whose fatal beauty, and still more fatal love, are about to be dearly requited.

2. (UK, law) A prisoner accused but not yet tried.

• See also Thesaurus:criminal

• culpable
• mea culpa

• French: coupable
• German: Beschuldigter, Missetäter, Schuldiger, Täter, Übeltäter, (law) Beklagter
• Italian: colpevole, reo
• Portuguese: culpado
• Russian: вино́вник
• Spanish: culpable