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

“The two criminal cases announced is only the tip of the iceberg and we intend to aggressively pursue all leads and hold anyone who broke any federal laws criminally liable.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“And any time you can get guys on base, it just amplifies that and they’re more liable to make mistakes.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Legal pressure against Jones has been mounting since he was found liable by two juries for defamation and emotional distress over his lies about the Sandy Hook school shooting.

Read more on BBC

You would only be liable for gift tax if you went over the Internal Revenue Service’s gift-tax limit.

Read more on MarketWatch

The trial beginning on Monday must first determine whether carmakers are liable, before a separate compensation phase can follow next year.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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