liable

American  

[lahy-uh-buhl] / ˈlaɪ ə bəl /

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.

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liable British  

/ ˈlaɪəbəl /

adjective

1. legally obliged or responsible; answerable

2. susceptible or exposed; subject

3. probable, likely, or capable

   it's liable to happen soon

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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

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

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Etymology

Origin of liable

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

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Explanation

If you drive into someone's fence, you’ll probably be held liable — legally responsible — for fixing it. Liable can also mean “likely,” usually with something unpleasant: "If you don't brush your teeth, they're liable to fall out." When liable refers to legal responsibility, it's used with "for": "You're liable for the court costs" (meaning you have to pay them). When liable means "likely," it's with "to": "If you build your house on that cliff, it's liable to fall into the river," or "That part of town is liable to mudslides." Don't confuse liable with libel, which is a legal term for slander, or saying something false and damaging about someone.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

liable

A New Mexico jury also found the social media giant liable for harms to children, leading to a combined penalty of $942 million earlier this year.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

West coast ferry operator CalMac, external said many its services remained liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice and urged travellers to check its website for updates.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

At the maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation, Meta could have been liable for a penalty of $219.5 billion; the judge, showing compassion, cut that to $25 billion without explaining his reasoning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Under the plain text of the Video Privacy Protection Act, Salazar should be able to hold Paramount liable for its disclosure of his video history.

From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026

He was liable to ruin his batting swing by striking at a little jacks ball.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

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Related Words

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

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