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
-
archaic not answerable to a higher authority for one's actions
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
Not every proposed data center will be built, but having Arizona’s grid too heavily weighted toward one sector would be irresponsible, Gallego said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
The IOC and Wada have described the Enhanced Games as "immoral" and "a dangerous and irresponsible concept", while World Athletics president Lord Coe said anyone taking part was "moronic".
From BBC • May 25, 2026
Anti-doping officials decry the event as unethical, irresponsible and dangerous.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
“Feel bad in the sense that you regret you can’t go and that it will have an impact on people, but don’t let someone guilt-trip you or make you feel like you’re an irresponsible person.”
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
“If I’m so irresponsible, why do you want to marry me off to some lord from the South?”
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
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.
