irresponsible

American  

[ir-i-spon-suh-buhl] / ˌɪr ɪˈspɒn sə bəl /

adjective

1. 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

2. not capable of or qualified for responsibility, as due to age, circumstances, or a mental deficiency.

3. not responsible, answerable, or accountable to higher authority.

   irresponsible as a monarch.

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noun

1. an irresponsible person.

irresponsible British  

/ ˌɪrɪˈspɒnsəbəl /

adjective

1. not showing or done with due care for the consequences of one's actions or attitudes; reckless

2. not capable of bearing responsibility

3. archaic not answerable to a higher authority for one's actions

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Other Word Forms

• irresponsibility noun
• irresponsibleness noun
• irresponsibly adverb

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.

Example Sentences

Spokesman Davis Ingle told the BBC at the time that "any implication that Administration officials are engaged in such activity without evidence is baseless and irresponsible reporting".

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

"We express regret to the North over the unnecessary military tensions caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals."

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

“It would be very, very irresponsible for Western companies to continue to wait until we have a peaceful country,” Guy Robert Lukama, former chairman of Gécamines, Congo’s state-owned mining company, told the Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Until the underlying biology of so-called cured patients is better understood, they say, it’s premature, and perhaps even irresponsible, to use the term.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

“Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It’s time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo.”

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• capricious
• immature
• thoughtless