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

The UK government shares responsibility for protecting the islands' nature and up to 90% of Britain's unique species are found around these and other British Overseas Territories.

From BBC

"The coaches set us up to do well, and we as players have to take responsibility. It is us - myself as captain and the guys on the field," he told BBC Sport.

From BBC

Salmon was given a lot of responsibility for a defender of his age on his first start for Arsenal.

From BBC

Leaders usually express "regret" or distance themselves from responsibility.

From BBC

For military historian Srinath Raghavan, the legal position is clear: once the Iranian vessel left India's shores, Delhi had no formal responsibility.

From BBC

Related Words

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