obligation

[ob-li-gey-shuhn]

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms: responsibility

2. something that is done or is to be done for such reasons.

   to fulfill one's obligations.

3. a binding promise, contract, sense of duty, etc.

4. the act of binding or obliging oneself by a promise, contract, etc.

5. Law.

   1. an agreement enforceable by law, originally applied to promises under seal.

   2. a document containing such an agreement.

   3. a bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed for payment of money, performance of covenants, etc.

   Synonyms: covenant, contract

6. any bond, note, bill, certificate, or the like, as of a government or a corporation, serving as evidence of indebtedness.

7. an indebtedness or amount of indebtedness.

8. a favor, service, or benefit for which gratitude is due.

9. a debt of gratitude.

   He felt an obligation to his teacher.

10. the state of being under a debt, as of gratitude, for a favor, service, or benefit.

obligation

/ ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. a moral or legal requirement; duty

2. the act of obligating or the state of being obligated

3. law a legally enforceable agreement to perform some act, esp to pay money, for the benefit of another party

4. law

   1. a written contract containing a penalty

   2. an instrument acknowledging indebtedness to secure the repayment of money borrowed

5. a person or thing to which one is bound morally or legally

6. something owed in return for a service or favour

7. a service or favour for which one is indebted

Other Word Forms

• preobligation noun
• reobligation noun
• superobligation noun
• obligational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obligation¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English obligacioun, from Old French obligation, from Latin obligātiōn-, stem of obligātiō “bond, engagement, pledge,” from obligāt(us) “bound” (past participle of obligāre; obligate ) + -iō -ion

Synonym Study

See duty.

Example Sentences

They don’t affect External link its day-to-day operations, ability to conduct monetary policy, or meet its financial obligations.

Read more on Barron's

Where Mr. Kelly frames disobedience as an option, Mr. Deluzio presents it as a mandatory obligation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He has been pressing ministers to consider giving younger care leavers the same rate of Universal Credit received by those over 25, pointing out they would have the same obligations an older claimant.

Read more on BBC

The laws' entry into force was already delayed from 2027 to 2028 and Brussels now wants to go further by reducing the number of companies covered and their obligations.

Read more on Barron's

Catch-up contributions are a great way for older workers to sock away extra money at a time when other financial obligations, like college tuition payments, might be in the rearview mirror.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• accountability 
• agreement 
• bond 
• burden 
• commitment 
• constraint 
• contract 
• debt 
• duty 
• liability 
• necessity 
• need 
• promise 
• requirement 
• right 
• trust 
• understanding