Definition of responsibility
responsibilities
1 : the quality or state of being responsible: such asa : moral, legal, or mental accountabilityb : reliability, trustworthiness
2 : something for which one is responsible : burden has neglected his responsibilities
Read the Latest from M-W
Examples of responsibility in a Sentence
… Landau's piece, examining the fan's, and the journalist's responsibility to rock stars … —Lawrence Dietz, Los Angeles Times Book Review, 23 May 1971
A great soprano has a responsibility to her public … —Robert Evett, Atlantic, September 1970
The responsibility for engineering the line of cars which in 1908 evolved the immortal Model T … —John Kenneth Galbraith, New York Times Book Review, 28 Feb. 1954
Anthony Burton had once said that this was your responsibility toward society. —John P. Marquand, Atlantic, Nov. 1947
The boys denied any responsibility for the damage to the fence.
A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
The janitor has many responsibilities.
Mowing the lawn is your responsibility.
She has to deal with a lot of family and work responsibilities.
It is your responsibility to give the company two weeks notice if you decide to leave.
In her new position, she will have much more responsibility.
We have a responsibility to protect the environment.
The government's responsibility is to serve the public.
The principal has responsibility for 450 students and a staff of 35.
Recent Examples of responsibility from the Web
-
Gen. Walter C. Short, head of the Army’s Hawaiian Department, whose main responsibility was protection of the fleet, was fixated on the possibility of sabotage from Hawaii’s large Japanese population.
-
The result among American allies in Europe isn’t a sudden assertion of their own responsibility.
-
Mr. Purdy, 60, will continue to oversee investigations and enterprise, while taking on additional responsibilities involving daily news coverage.
-
Although Gorton said that Ryan McDonagh, the team’s captain, was capable of filling the power-play responsibilities vacated by Yandle, the Rangers might acquire a more prolific defenseman.
-
Me: Your room shouldn’t be your responsibility to clean.
-
The assailants, five of whom were killed in the exchange, are affiliated with ISIS, and the group has reportedly claimed responsibility.
-
There is yet another hallmark of the Gilded Age, a product of these others, that also marks our own: the development of a robust public debate about the relationship between the giver, his gift, and the public’s responsibility in policing it.
-
Illustration by Jameson Simpson Highway Patrolman Dale C. Carson, former cop and FBI special agent, coauthor of Arrest-Proof Yourself Acceptance of responsibility is key.
These example sentences are collected from online sources. Help us improve them by sending feedback.
Origin and Etymology of responsibility
see responsible
First Known Use: 1771
RESPONSIBILITY Defined for English Language Learners
responsibility
playDefinition of responsibility for English Language Learners
-
: the state of being the person who caused something to happen
-
: a duty or task that you are required or expected to do
-
: something that you should do because it is morally right, legally required, etc.
RESPONSIBILITY Defined for Kids
responsibility
playDefinition of responsibility for Students
responsibilities
1 : the quality or state of being in charge of someone or something
2 : the quality of being dependable Show responsibility by always doing your homework.
3 : something or someone for which someone has charge The children are my responsibility.
Learn More about responsibility
-
See words that rhyme with responsibility Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for responsibility Spanish Central: Translation of responsibility Nglish: Translation of responsibility for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of responsibility for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up responsibility? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!