liability
Americannoun
-
liabilities,
-
Finance. moneys owed; debts or pecuniary obligations (opposed to assets).
-
Accounting. liabilities as detailed on a balance sheet, especially in relation to assets and capital.
-
-
something disadvantageous.
His lack of education is his biggest liability.
-
Also liableness the state or quality of being liable.
liability to disease.
noun
-
the state of being liable
-
a financial obligation
-
a hindrance or disadvantage
-
likelihood or probability
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of liability
Explanation
A liability is a debt or obligation or a personal flaw that stands in your way. A company's liabilities are simply the debts on its ledger, but a personal liability might be your extreme shyness in social situations. Depending on how you use it, the word liability has very different meanings. In a business or financial sense, a liability is a debt or fiscal obligation, like a mortgage or a loan. A limited liability company means if the company fails, the partners are on the hook for only what they initially invested in the company. A personal liability, however, is some element of your past, your character, or your behavior that might give you a disadvantage.
Vocabulary lists containing liability
The Lightning Thief
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Kite Runner
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This could include fines or, as a last resort, criminal liability for companies which do not comply.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
“If all the swimming pools and private places of business in Poultney were to be considered a public commons, just imagine the crippling cost of the liability insurance,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
The issue of legal liability for the military was one of the most heated debates.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
So if the Knicks win, sportsbooks will lose because bettors have been putting a lot of money on them all season long, creating a liability.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
In a profession where a conscience was a liability, who would want one?
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
