irresponsible
Americanadjective
-
said, done, or characterized by a lack of a sense of responsibility.
His refusal to work shows him to be completely irresponsible.
- Synonyms:
- thoughtless, undependable, unreliable
-
not capable of or qualified for responsibility, as due to age, circumstances, or a mental deficiency.
-
not responsible, answerable, or accountable to higher authority.
irresponsible as a monarch.
noun
adjective
-
not showing or done with due care for the consequences of one's actions or attitudes; reckless
-
not capable of bearing responsibility
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archaic not answerable to a higher authority for one's actions
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of irresponsible
First recorded in 1640–50; ir- 2 + responsible
Explanation
If you're irresponsible, you're careless about the consequences of your actions. You can't really rely on irresponsible people. Being irresponsible is the opposite of being responsible and careful — you do what you like and don't care what happens afterward. Forgetting to feed your dog for a week is irresponsible. Splashing around in a mud puddle in your new white pants is irresponsible. Drug use and unsafe sex are irresponsible. When the government runs up a huge deficit, many people think that's irresponsible. If you have to work with someone irresponsible, good luck: you're going to need it.
Vocabulary lists containing irresponsible
Word Generation Social Studies - Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome
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"America the Not-So-Beautiful"
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Words from the First 2020 Presidential Debate
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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.
“The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false,” Bartiromo’s lawyer said today.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2026
That’s probably irresponsible, but I’m so painfully empathetic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The group Environmental Action Germany charged the government was "irresponsible" because it had "failed to adopt a single effective measure for heat protection following an extreme summer that saw thousands of heat-related deaths".
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
But time and time again, it seemed financially irresponsible to spend $10,000 a month on a mortgage when I could get a rental for less than half that cost.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
“I thought you had more sense after all this time. But you’ve proven to me you do not. Such recklessness using my name! On a case of this importance! You irresponsible girl!”
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
