liable

[lahy-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. legally responsible.

   You are liable for the damage caused by your action.

   Synonyms: accountable, answerable

2. subject or susceptible.

   to be liable to heart disease.

3. likely or apt.

   He's liable to get angry.

liable

/ ˈlaɪəbəl /

adjective

1. legally obliged or responsible; answerable

2. susceptible or exposed; subject

3. probable, likely, or capable

   it's liable to happen soon

Usage

Liable is often interchangeable with likely in constructions with a following infinitive where the sense is that of probability: The Sox are liable (or likely ) to sweep the Series. Some usage guides, however, say that liable can be used only in contexts in which the outcome is undesirable: The picnic is liable to be spoiled by rain. This use occurs often in formal writing but not to the exclusion of use in contexts in which the outcome is desirable: The drop in unemployment is liable to stimulate the economy. Apt may also be used in place of liable or likely in all the foregoing examples. See also apt, likely.

The use of liable to to mean likely to was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable

Other Word Forms

• nonliable adjective
• preliable adjective
• unliable adjective
• liableness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of liable¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Anglo-French “to bind,” from Latin ligāre ) + -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of liable¹

C15: perhaps via Anglo-French, from Old French lier to bind, from Latin ligāre

Example Sentences

In other words, merely because a company doesn’t cancel some of its accused subscribers doesn’t make it necessarily liable for their alleged infringement.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His written submissions to the court added: "The suffragettes would have been liable to proscription if the Terrorism Act 2000 regime had been in force at the turn of the 20th century."

Read more on BBC

The band at which properties will become liable for the charge will increase in line with inflation.

Read more on BBC

HM Treasury said the majority of UK spirits were exported and so not liable for UK alcohol duty.

Read more on BBC

At any moment, Levesque seems liable to break out into “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apt 
• inclined 
• prone 
• sensitive 
• susceptible 
• vulnerable