onus

[ oh-nuhs ]
See synonyms for onus on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural o·nus·es.
  1. a difficult or disagreeable obligation, task, burden, etc.

  2. burden of proof.: Compare onus probandi.

  1. blame or responsibility.

Origin of onus

1
1630–40; <Latin: load, burden

Other words for onus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for onus

onus

/ (ˈəʊnəs) /


nounplural onuses
  1. a responsibility, task, or burden

Origin of onus

1
C17: from Latin: burden

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012