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responsibility

[C/U] Both
pl: responsibilitiespast: nullpp: nulling: nullcomp: nullsup: null

This term carries a heavy weight of obligation and burden. It describes a psychological or legal bond where an individual is tied to the outcome of a specific task or event, creating a sense of pressure to perform or a requirement to answer for failures. It is often used in professional and civic contexts to define boundaries of authority. While duty refers to a moral or legal requirement, responsibility focuses more on the accountability and the active management of a situation. It can be viewed as a positive trait of maturity and reliability, or as a stressful weight that one must carry, depending on whether the context is about leadership or blame.

Countable when referring to a specific task or duty, such as having many responsibilities at work. Uncountable when referring to the general quality of being reliable or the abstract concept of accountability.

Meanings

Noun
[someone][something]

The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.

"It is the manager's responsibility to ensure safety."

Noun
[someone][something]

The state of being accountable or to blame for something.

"The driver accepted full responsibility for the accident."

Noun
[someone][something]

The ability to be trusted to do what is right or expected.

"The new employee has shown a great deal of responsibility."

Last Updated: May 27, 2026Report an Error