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Synonyms

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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I have a responsibility to make strategic changes that reflect that I really heard those things or saw those things,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said "the availability of driving tests is a reserved matter for the UK Government and is the responsibility of the DVSA".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

The show and its team now fall under the responsibility of OpenAI's public affairs chief Chris Lehane, a veteran Washington lobbyist who made his name handling scandals for the Clinton administration.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

A somber admission that U.S. actions in Iran might be followed by serious counteraggression was needed, and is part of the president’s responsibility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

When I was with the cows, they were my responsibility.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.