responsible

[ri-spon-suh-buhl]

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.

responsible

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of responsible¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of responsible¹

C16: from Latin rēsponsus , from rēspondēre to _respond

Example Sentences

Last, and Muñoz's favorite, is the idea that the stars in these systems are responsible.

Read more on Science Daily

Jonathan Stafford, commander of Task Force Talon, an Army unit responsible for Guam’s missile defense.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The clubs launched legal action against the BBF in the high court, while UK sports minister Stephanie Peacock reportedly asked the government body responsible for elite funding, UK Sport, to investigate the allegations.

Read more on BBC

Rosneft is responsible for nearly half of all Russian oil production, which makes up 6% of the global output, according to the government.

Read more on BBC

UK financial regulators Wednesday slashed the time senior bankers must wait for bonuses linked to long-term performance, in a bid to improve competitiveness without impacting on "responsible risk-taking".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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