responsibility

American  

[ri-spon-suh-bil-i-tee] / rɪˌspɒn səˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

responsibilities

1. the state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one's power, control, or management.

   Synonyms:

   accountability, answerability

2. an instance of being responsible.

   The responsibility for this mess is yours!

3. a particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible.

   the responsibilities of authority.

4. a person or thing for which one is responsible.

   A child is a responsibility to their parents.

5. reliability or dependability, especially in meeting debts or payments.

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idioms

1. on one's own responsibility, on one's own initiative or authority.

   He changed the order on his own responsibility.

responsibility British  

/ rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or position of being responsible

2. a person or thing for which one is responsible

3. the ability or authority to act or decide on one's own, without supervision

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Other Word Forms

• nonresponsibility noun
• preresponsibility noun
• self-responsibility noun
• superresponsibility noun

Etymology

Origin of responsibility

First recorded in 1780–90; respons(ible) + -ibility

Example Sentences

Only in a typical corporate environment, more seasoned workers have accumulated more skills and take on more responsibility to justify more money.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, he said the United States has "a legal responsibility to protect those who seek refuge in our country from persecution by authoritarian governments."

From Barron's

A video analysis by The Journal suggests otherwise, and preliminary findings by CBP’s internal office of professional responsibility, seen by the Journal, corroborated the Journal’s findings.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It is our responsibility as a House to find a way forward," he told peers, urging them to back the changes.

From BBC

Unlike 29 years ago, though, "we have to take responsibility", he said.

From Barron's

Related Words

• authority
• burden
• duty
• guilt
• importance
• liability
• obligation
• power
• restraint
• trust