obligation
- something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc.
- something that is done or is to be done for such reasons: to fulfill one's obligations.
- a binding promise, contract, sense of duty, etc.
- the act of binding or obliging oneself by a promise, contract, etc.
- Law.
- an agreement enforceable by law, originally applied to promises under seal.
- a document containing such an agreement.
- a bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed for payment of money, performance of covenants, etc.
- any bond, note, bill, certificate, or the like, as of a government or a corporation, serving as evidence of indebtedness.
- an indebtedness or amount of indebtedness.
- a favor, service, or benefit for which gratitude is due.
- a debt of gratitude: He felt an obligation to his teacher.
- the state of being under a debt, as of gratitude, for a favor, service, or benefit.
Origin of obligation
Synonyms for obligation
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Related Words for obligation
duty, accountability, requirement, right, necessity, constraint, understanding, commitment, contract, agreement, liability, trust, promise, burden, need, debt, bond, conscience, onus, businessExamples from the Web for obligation
Contemporary Examples of obligation
Obviously, the first obligation of all liberal democratic governments is to enforce the rule of law.
It is the obligation of citizens and journalists as well as governments.
“It is our Islamic obligation to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State and give it our Islamic fealty,” he said.
But he has always said we have an obligation to defend people in the region.
Krauss says that ending religion is a matter of obligation, but I think our obligations are much different.
Historical Examples of obligation
But I don't wish to be under any obligation to him, that's certain.
The Raid From Beausejour; And How The Carter Boys Lifted The MortgageCharles G. D. Roberts
Yet I don't like to owe him an obligation, if I could help it.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
He cannot permit the burden of obligation to remain upon him.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
At the lowest mark, the balance will be even, and there'll be no obligation at all.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
This obligation to learn ceases when certain examinations are passed.
FreelandTheodor Hertzka
obligation
- a moral or legal requirement; duty
- the act of obligating or the state of being obligated
- law a legally enforceable agreement to perform some act, esp to pay money, for the benefit of another party
- law
- a written contract containing a penalty
- an instrument acknowledging indebtedness to secure the repayment of money borrowed
- a person or thing to which one is bound morally or legally
- something owed in return for a service or favour
- a service or favour for which one is indebted
Word Origin and History for obligation
c.1300, from Old French obligacion "obligation, duty, responsibility" (early 13c.) and directly from Latin obligationem (nominative obligatio) "an engaging or pledging," literally "a binding" (but rarely used in this sense), noun of action from past participle stem of obligare (see oblige). The notion is of binding with promises or by law or duty.