liable

adjective li·a·ble \ ˈlī-ə-bəl , especially in sense 2 often ˈlī-bəl \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of liable

1 a : obligated according to law or equity (see equity 3) : responsible

liable for the debts incurred by his wife

b : subject to appropriation or attachment

All his property is liable to pay his debts.

2 a : being in a position to incur —used with to

liable to a fine

b : exposed or subject to some usually adverse contingency or action

watch out or you're liable to fall

See liable defined for English-language learners

See liable defined for kids

liable vs. apt

Both liable and apt when followed by an infinitive are used nearly interchangeably with likely. Although conflicting advice has been given over the years, most current commentators accept apt when so used. They generally recommend limiting liable to situations having an undesirable outcome, and our evidence shows that in edited writing it is more often so used than not.

Examples of liable in a Sentence

If someone gets hurt on your property, you could be liable.
because of his frail constitution, he's liable to diseases

Recent Examples of liable from the Web

The president's legal team for the special counsel investigation has been marked by turnover and uncertain strategy, complicated by a client liable to dismiss his lawyers' advice.

— mark dent, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump moves to add Clinton impeachment lawyer to defense team as Ty Cobb exits," 2 May 2018
But in 2015, the National Labor Relations Board said any franchiser could be held as a joint employer with local franchisees, liable to legal action and protests by employees.

— elizabeth garone, WSJ, "As Franchising Takes Off, These Businesses Are Hottest," 30 Apr. 2018
In finding a defendant liable for fraud, federal jurors normally enjoy wide latitude in assessing damages, both of the compensatory and punitive kind—thereby making these claims potentially very threatening to Armstrong.

— michael mccann, SI.com, "Was It the Right Decision for Lance Armstrong to Settle in His Lawsuit With the U.S. Government?," 21 Apr. 2018
But a jury this month deliberated only for a few hours before finding Adam Shacknai, the brother of Zahau's millionaire boyfriend, liable for her death.

— robert anglen, azcentral, "San Diego sheriff to re-evaluate 2011 hanging death of Rebecca Zahau," 17 Apr. 2018
Those lawsuits, which sought to hold gun companies liable for the extra policing and emergency servicing expense that resulted from gun violence, were costing gun companies enormous sums.

— elliott woods, The New Republic, "Essential reporting, interpretation, and opinion on politics and culture. Don't miss our latest.," 16 Apr. 2018
McGahn, who in the past has threatened to step down if the president fired Mueller, is widely seen within the West Wing as liable to resign if Rosenstein is fired.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Steve Bannon pitching White House on proposal to reel in Mueller inquiry," 12 Apr. 2018
In civil cases, the standard is a preponderance of evidence, or, that the defendant is more likely liable than not.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Questions, theories, opinions abound after Zahau wrongful death verdict," 8 Apr. 2018
According to the agreement as outlined in her lawsuit, Daniels could be liable for $1 million payable to Trump for each breach.

— joey morona, cleveland.com, "Air date for Stormy Daniels' '60 Minutes' interview with Anderson Cooper uncertain," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'liable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of liable

Middle English lyable, from Anglo-French *liable, from lier to bind, from Latin ligare — more at ligature

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

liable Synonyms

Phrases

at risk, in deep water, in jeopardy;

Synonym Discussion of liable

liable, open, exposed, subject, prone, susceptible, sensitive mean being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse. liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

- liable to get lost

open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

- a claim open to question

exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

- exposed to infection

subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

- all reports are subject to review

prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

- prone to delay

susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

- very susceptible to flattery

sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

- unduly sensitive to criticism

synonyms see in addition responsible

LIABLE Defined for English Language Learners

liable

adjective

Definition of liable for English Language Learners

: legally responsible for something
: likely to be affected or harmed by something
: likely to do something

LIABLE Defined for Kids

liable

adjective li·a·ble \ ˈlī-ə-bəl \

Definition of liable for Students

1 : likely 1

It's liable to rain.

2 : judged by law to be responsible for something

We are liable for damage that we do.

3 : not sheltered or protected (as from danger or accident)

liable to injury

Law Dictionary

liable

adjective li·a·ble \ ˈlī-ə-bəl \

legal Definition of liable

1 : answerable according to law : bound or obligated according to law or equity

one is liable as an accomplice to the crime of another
—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

the estate is liable for succession taxes
—Commissioner of Revenue Services v. Estate of Culpepper, 493 A.2d 297 (1985)

2 a : being in a position to incur —used with to

liable to a fine

property liable to duties

b : subject or amenable according to law

Origin and Etymology of liable

ultimately from Old French lier to bind, from Latin ligare

Learn More about liable

See words that rhyme with liable Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for liable Spanish Central: Translation of liable Nglish: Translation of liable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of liable for Arabic speakers

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liable

Definition of liable

liable vs. apt

Examples of liable in a Sentence

Recent Examples of liable from the Web

Origin and Etymology of liable

liable Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Synonym Discussion of liable

LIABLE Defined for English Language Learners

liable

Definition of liable for English Language Learners

LIABLE Defined for Kids

liable

Definition of liable for Students

Law Dictionary

liable

legal Definition of liable

Origin and Etymology of liable

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