Synonyms

onus

American

[oh-nuhs] / ˈoʊ nəs /

noun

plural

onuses

a difficult or disagreeable obligation, task, burden, etc.

Synonyms:

load, duty, weight, responsibility
burden of proof.
blame or responsibility.

onus British

/ ˈəʊnəs /

noun

a responsibility, task, or burden

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of onus

1630–40; < Latin: load, burden

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The onus is 100% on us to say: here is the value of being here,” said Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, a professor of computer sciences at University of Wisconsin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

The defense put the onus for the violence on Crook.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

"The onus should be on addressing these risks rather than making yet another cynically timed announcement that passes the buck to parents," he added.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

The significantly sweetened bid from Paramount put the onus on Netflix to either raise its bid of $27.75 per share for Warner’s studio and streaming businesses but it opted to walk away instead.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

“Then on me be the onus of bringing it forward. Signior Eduardo, are you in voice to-night?”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023