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

Etymology

Origin of liable

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

Example Sentences

UBS was charged as criminally liable for the alleged money laundering as Credit Suisse’s successor, though the alleged conduct took place in 2016.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From 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."

From BBC

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

From BBC

Still, in federal waters, the government can hold prior owners of wells liable for plugging them, even if the current owners go under or otherwise don’t fulfill their cleanup obligations.

From New York Times

Related Words

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