duty

¹du·ty

noun \ˈdü-tē also ˈdyü-\

plural duties

Definition of DUTY

1

: conduct due to parents and superiors : respect

2

a : obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group) b (1) : assigned service or business (2) : active military service (3) : a period of being on duty

3

a : a moral or legal obligation b : the force of moral obligation

4

: tax; especially : a tax on imports

5

a : work 1a b (1) : the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions (2) : functional application : use <got double duty out of the trip> (3) : use as a substitute <making the word do duty for the thing — Edward Sapir>

— off duty

: free from assignment or responsibility

— on duty

: engaged in or responsible for an assigned task or duty

Examples of DUTY

1. His primary duty at the event is to take attendance.
2. If new employees are unable to carry out their duties, they may be fired.
3. She has a variety of adminsitrative duties.
4. We felt it was our duty to help.
5. He has a duty to support his family.
6. They helped her out of a sense of duty.
7. I'll be ready when duty calls.
8. Her brother returned from duty overseas.
9. a twelve-month tour of duty
10. Many reserve troops were called into active duty.

Origin of DUTY

Middle English duete, from Anglo-French deueté, dueté, from deu due

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DUTY

Synonyms: assessment, tax, imposition, impost, levy

Related Words: direct tax, personal tax; capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax; supertax, surcharge, surtax; death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax; flat tax, proportional tax

Near Antonyms: grace, postponement, stay; discharge, ease, exemption, release, relief, waiver; loophole; alternative, choice, option, pick, preference, selection

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at function, task