The phrase “mea culpa” is a Latin expression meaning “my fault” or “through my fault”, used to acknowledge one’s guilt or responsibility for a mistake. An antonym for this would express a denial of guilt or responsibility.
Possible Antonyms:
- “Non mea culpa” (Latin) – This directly translates to “not my fault” and serves as a literal opposite.
- “Innocent” or “Not guilty” – These terms are commonly used to deny blame or responsibility in English.
- “I am blameless” – A formal way of rejecting fault or accountability.
Examples in Context:
- If someone says, “mea culpa”, they are taking responsibility: “I forgot to submit the report—mea culpa.”
- Conversely, an antonym might be: “It’s not my fault,” or, in Latin, *“Non mea culpa.”
Cultural Usage:
While “mea culpa” is widely recognized for admitting guilt, its antonym depends on the context and language. In informal settings, phrases like “I didn’t do it” or “It’s not on me” can also work as antonyms.
In summary, the antonym of “mea culpa” is “non mea culpa” or other phrases that deny fault or responsibility, depending on the context.