responsible

American  

[ri-spon-suh-buhl] / rɪˈspɒn sə bəl /

adjective

1. answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management (often followed by to orfor ).

   He is responsible to the president for his decisions.

   Synonyms:

   liable

2. involving accountability or responsibility, as in having the power to control or manage.

   promoted to a responsible position in the firm.

3. chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually followed byfor ).

   Termites were responsible for the damage.

4. having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action.

   The defendant is not responsible for his actions.

   Synonyms:

   competent

5. able to discharge obligations or pay debts.

   Synonyms:

   solvent

6. reliable or dependable, as in meeting debts, conducting business dealings, etc.

   Synonyms:

   trustworthy, reliable, capable, honest

7. (of a government, member of a government, government agency, or the like) answerable to or serving at the discretion of an elected legislature or the electorate.

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responsible British  

/ rɪˈspɒnsəbəl /

adjective

1. having control or authority (over)

2. being accountable for one's actions and decisions (to)

   to be responsible to one's commanding officer

3. (of a position, duty, etc) involving decision and accountability

4. (often foll by for) being the agent or cause (of some action)

   to be responsible for a mistake

5. able to take rational decisions without supervision; accountable for one's own actions

   a responsible adult

6. able to meet financial obligations; of sound credit

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Other Word Forms

• interresponsible adjective
• nonresponsible adjective
• nonresponsibleness noun
• nonresponsibly adverb
• preresponsible adjective
• quasi-responsible adjective
• quasi-responsibly adverb
• responsibleness noun
• responsibly adverb
• superresponsible adjective
• superresponsibleness noun
• superresponsibly adverb
• unresponsible adjective
• unresponsibleness noun
• unresponsibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of responsible

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin respōns(us) ( response ( def. ) ) + -ible ( def. )

Explanation

If you're the responsible one, everyone is depending on you to take care of it. And, if things go poorly, it's all your fault. Sounds like a drag to be responsible but really it is what we all want out of life. After all, when you're responsible, you get the keys to the car, you make your own decisions, and you get all the credit. Parents love the responsible babysitter who doesn't text with her friends and feed the kids bowls of ice cream. Of course, the boy who is responsible for bringing firecrackers to the football game will not be looked upon with the same level of respect. Responsibility can bring all the glory, but all the blame too.

Example Sentences

Given that you say one brother is not reliable and the other brother is responsible half of the time, it does not seem wise to enter a financial arrangement with them.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

In mid-December 2020, federal officials responsible for protecting American elections from fraud converged in a windowless, dim, fortified room at the Justice Department’s downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

The item, which goes under the hammer in Penshurst later this month, was awarded to the engineer of a steamship responsible for saving more than 700 of the stricken ocean liner's passengers in April 1912.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The new trial, which will hear from some 120 witnesses, will again seek to determine if Maradona's medical team is responsible for his death.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

And while I do, I wonder if this man is responsible for the horrible smoke.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Related Words

• able
• capable
• competent
• conscientious
• effective
• efficient
• loyal
• rational
• reliable
• sensible