responsible

[ri-spon-suh-buhl]

adjective

1. answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management (often followed by to orfor ).

   He is responsible to the president for his decisions.

   Synonyms: liable

2. involving accountability or responsibility, as in having the power to control or manage.

   promoted to a responsible position in the firm.

3. chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually followed byfor ).

   Termites were responsible for the damage.

4. having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action.

   The defendant is not responsible for his actions.

   Synonyms: competent

5. able to discharge obligations or pay debts.

   Synonyms: solvent

6. reliable or dependable, as in meeting debts, conducting business dealings, etc.

   Synonyms: trustworthy, reliable, capable, honest

7. (of a government, member of a government, government agency, or the like) answerable to or serving at the discretion of an elected legislature or the electorate.

responsible

/ rɪˈspɒnsəbəl /

adjective

1. having control or authority (over)

2. being accountable for one's actions and decisions (to)

   to be responsible to one's commanding officer

3. (of a position, duty, etc) involving decision and accountability

4. (often foll by for) being the agent or cause (of some action)

   to be responsible for a mistake

5. able to take rational decisions without supervision; accountable for one's own actions

   a responsible adult

6. able to meet financial obligations; of sound credit

Other Word Forms

• responsibleness noun
• responsibly adverb
• interresponsible adjective
• nonresponsible adjective
• nonresponsibleness noun
• nonresponsibly adverb
• preresponsible adjective
• quasi-responsible adjective
• quasi-responsibly adverb
• superresponsible adjective
• superresponsibleness noun
• superresponsibly adverb
• unresponsible adjective
• unresponsibleness noun
• unresponsibly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of responsible¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin respōns(us) ( response ( def. ) ) + -ible ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of responsible¹

C16: from Latin rēsponsus , from rēspondēre to _respond

Example Sentences

"I don't want flattery. I want to hear the truth. It's the people who kept telling me that everything was fine who are responsible for our current situation," he said.

Read more on BBC

"We will not reward those responsible for their illegal actions," the spokesperson added.

Read more on BBC

Hamas said the negotiations were "responsible and serious" and called on the US and other mediators to ensure that Israel implements the deal "without disavowal or delay".

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Hyams-Millard said that even if Case Connect is not a law firm, lawyers working with it could be held responsible for the potentially misleading nature of its ads.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The administration asserts left-wing radicals are responsible for the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a sniper attack on the ICE field office in Dallas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• able 
• capable 
• competent 
• conscientious 
• effective 
• efficient 
• loyal 
• rational 
• reliable 
• sensible