liability

[ lahy-uh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

, plural li·a·bil·i·ties.

1. liabilities,
   1. Finance. moneys owed; debts or pecuniary obligations ( assets ).
   2. Accounting. liabilities as detailed on a balance sheet, especially in relation to assets and capital.
2. something disadvantageous:

   His lack of education is his biggest liability.

3. Also li·a·ble·ness [] the state or quality of being liable:

   liability to disease.

liability

/ ˌlaɪəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being liable
2. a financial obligation
3. a hindrance or disadvantage
4. likelihood or probability

liability

1. An obligation or debt .

Other Words From

• non·li·a·bil·i·ty noun plural nonliabilities
• pre·li·a·bil·i·ty noun plural preliabilities

Word History and Origins

Origin of liability¹

First recorded in 1785–95; li(able) + -ability

Example Sentences

Now, the GOP is pushing to put corporate liability protections in any follow-up pandemic legislation so that businesses aren’t held responsible if their workers or customers get sick.

From Vox

The cases also shared a common theme of the “host companies” claiming they had no liability since they were not the workers’ direct employers.

From ProPublica

While the fire was burning, an attorney for Singh registered a new limited liability company, Regal Rose, at one of Singh’s business addresses.

From ProPublica

Prior to joining Google, Delaine Prado practiced media law and product liability law with Philadelphia law firms.

From Fortune

“If Congress extended vaccine liability protections to any institution that requires it, and insulated them, that would change the equation,” he says.

From Ozy

No one saw them, and all of a sudden reports of being “difficult” were a real liability.

From The Daily Beast

Except for in the Academy, where a low number seems to be a liability.

From The Daily Beast

But will his racially charged rhetoric make him a liability instead?

From The Daily Beast

The Japanese judges have established that yakuza bosses have “employer liability” for the actions of their subordinates.

From The Daily Beast

And when it comes to liability litigation, as inevitably it will, Rolls Royce would seem to be off the hook.

From The Daily Beast

The percentage of gold to the notes—the main demand liability—has, of course, fallen from about 65 to 35 per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a large shareholder of the bank, and the liability of the shareholders was unlimited.

From Project Gutenberg

A claim barred by the statute of limitations is not provable, nor is a contingent liability.

From Project Gutenberg

In many states statutes exist defining their right to sue and be sued, and their liability to creditors.

From Project Gutenberg

In such incompetent hands the malt business soon fell to be a liability rather than an asset.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• damage
• inconvenience
• involvement
• loan
• mortgage
• obligation
• responsibility