dutiful

American  

[doo-tuh-fuhl, dyoo-] / ˈdu tə fəl, ˈdyu- /

adjective

1. performing the duties expected or required of one; characterized by doing one's duty: a dutiful child.

   a dutiful citizen;

   a dutiful child.

   Synonyms:

   duteous, submissive, obedient, deferential, respectful

2. required by duty; proceeding from or expressive of a sense of duty.

   dutiful attention.

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dutiful British  

/ ˈdjuːtɪfʊl /

adjective

1. exhibiting or having a sense of duty

2. characterized by or resulting from a sense of duty

   a dutiful answer

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Other Word Forms

• dutifully adverb
• dutifulness noun
• quasi-dutiful adjective
• undutiful adjective

Etymology

Origin of dutiful

First recorded in 1545–55; duty + -ful

Explanation

Are you a dutiful person? If you are, then you do as you're told, out of a feeling of duty and obligation. Dutiful children know this means cleaning one's room, taking out the trash, and not talking back! The adjective dutiful is often used to describe obedient children, servants, and soldiers, as well as anyone else who willingly obeys orders. Not surprisingly, dutiful can also have a somewhat negative meaning. For example, if your graduation speaker gives a painfully boring address, you may respond with "dutiful applause" when it's over. That means you are clapping out of a sense of duty and respect, not because you thought the speech was any good.

Example Sentences

Stick with broad, cheap exposure to the U.S. stock market, and a dutiful allocation overseas, where valuations are at least lower.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

The trials and tribulations of the dutiful new bride had families reorganise their daily routines to ensure they didn't miss out a single episode.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

“It Girl” is dutiful in giving Birkin credit as a serious actress and singer, but it never brings her fully to life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

From the journals Metcalfe has surmised that Vivien, herself a brilliant literary scholar and teacher, had willfully lived out her marriage under Blundy’s shadow, the dutiful handmaiden to a literary eminence.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

“Want to keep playing dutiful mentor and show me how?”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• conscientious