responsibility

[ ri-spon-suh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

, plural re·spon·si·bil·i·ties.

1. the state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one's power, control, or management.

   Synonyms: answerability, accountability

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.

responsibility

/ 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

Other Words From

• non·re·spon·si·bil·i·ty noun plural nonresponsibilities
• pre·re·spon·si·bil·i·ty noun plural preresponsibilities
• self-re·spon·si·bil·i·ty noun
• su·per·re·spon·si·bil·i·ty noun plural superresponsibilities

Word History and Origins

Origin of responsibility¹

First recorded in 1780–90; respons(ible) + -ibility

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on one's own responsibility, on one's own initiative or authority:

   He changed the order on his own responsibility.

Example Sentences

Work requirements, then, become both a punitive element and a goad toward “personal responsibility,” a term that appears in Project 2025’s chapter on Medicaid.

From Los Angeles Times

Some might welcome the film’s nuanced look at the responsibilities of the media, while others may find it difficult to separate its historical focus from the emotionally charged realities of the current moment.

From Los Angeles Times

The attorney's stance makes sense to those who believe men can and should be expected to take personal responsibility for their behavior.

From Salon

"This has not happened before, with one department, one unit and one person having the responsibility to cohere and to coordinate the system," he added.

From BBC

The OSA demands tech firms take more responsibility for the content on their platforms to protect children from some legal but harmful material.

From BBC

Related Words

• authority
• burden
• duty
• guilt
• importance
• liability
• obligation
• power
• restraint
• trust