irresponsible

1 of 3

adjective

ir·​re·​spon·​si·​ble ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl 

: not responsible: such as

a

: lacking a sense of responsibility

b

: said or done with no sense of responsibility

irresponsible accusations

c

: unable especially mentally or financially to bear responsibility

d

: not answerable to higher authority

an irresponsible dictatorship

irresponsibility

ˌir-i-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

irresponsibleness

ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun

irresponsibly

ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

irresponsible

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a person who is irresponsible

irresponsibility

3 of 3

noun (2)

ir·​responsibility ¦i 

¦ir, 

¦iə+

: the quality or state of being irresponsible

Synonyms of irresponsible

Adjective

• reckless

Examples of irresponsible in a Sentence

Adjective

He's too irresponsible to keep a job for more than a week.

She made irresponsible comments that helped cause the riot.

It would be irresponsible to ignore the threats.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The expert also lamented the lack of empathy toward people who have lost relatives and described the handling of the bodies as irresponsible. — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

The leftist mayor of Paris on the occasion of the latest heatwave attacked American standpoints on air conditioning, saying that the United States as a major contributor to climate change was irresponsible and not a role model. — Katharina Buchholz, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

As the irresponsible use of AI escalates and an OpenAI smart model has already refused to follow instructions, Cameron's nightmare is turning into reality. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 3 July 2026

Unsuitable leaders are chosen on irresponsible promises and then tossed aside in favor of new brazen or naïve overpromisers. — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for irresponsible

• responsible
• sponsible

Kids Definition

irresponsible

adjective

ir·​re·​spon·​si·​ble

ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl

1

: not legally responsible

2

: having or showing no sense of responsibility

irresponsible behavior

3

: unable to bear responsibility

irresponsibility

-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

irresponsibly

-ˈspän(t)-sə-blē

adverb

Medical Definition

irresponsible

adjective

ir·​re·​spon·​si·​ble ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl 

: not responsible : mentally inadequate to bear responsibility

irresponsibility

-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural irresponsibilities