Word Explorer
Responsibility
/ɹɪˌspɑnsəˈbɪlɪɾi/
The state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable.
📖 Definitions of "Responsibility"
- 1
The state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable.
"Responsibility is a heavy burden."
- 2
The state of being liable, culpable, or responsible for something in particular.
- 3
A duty, obligation or liability for which someone is held accountable.
"Why didn't you clean the house? That was your responsibility!"
- 4
The obligation to carry forward an assigned task to a successful conclusion. With responsibility goes authority to direct and take the necessary action to ensure success.
🔄 Synonyms of "Responsibility"
4 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| obligationnoun | A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action. |
| dutynoun | (countable, uncountable) That which one is morally or legally obligated to do. |
| responsiblenessnoun | The state of being responsible; responsibility. |
| provincenoun | An administrative subdivision of certain countries, including Canada and China. |
↔️ Antonyms of "Responsibility"
Words with the opposite meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| irresponsibilitynoun | The character or state of being irresponsible; lack of or freedom from responsibility; want of accountability. |
| irresponsiblenessnoun | The quality of being irresponsible. |
💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Responsibility"
Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| responsiblenessnoun | The state of being responsible; responsibility. |
| dutynoun | (countable, uncountable) That which one is morally or legally obligated to do. |
| obligationnoun | A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action. |
| provincenoun | An administrative subdivision of certain countries, including Canada and China. |
| accountable | Obliged, when called upon, to answer (for one’s deeds); answerable. |
| liable | Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable. |
| accountabilitynoun | The state of being accountable; liability to be called on to render an account or give an explanation; liability to be held responsible or answerable for something. |
| responsiblenoun | (postpositive, followed by "for") Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically. |
| mandated | required, mandatory |
| devoirnoun | (archaic, often in plural) Duty, business; something that one must do. |
| duty-bound | Alternative spelling of dutybound. [Compelled by duty.] |
| mandatenoun | An official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept; an authorization. |
| decision-makingnoun | Alternative form of decision making. [The process of reaching a decision.] |
| remitnoun | (chiefly British) Terms of reference; set of responsibilities; scope. |
| authoritynoun | (uncountable) Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right. |
| prosecutionnoun | (law) The institution of legal proceedings (particularly criminal) against a person. |
| controlnoun | (countable, uncountable) An influence or authority over something. |
| liabilitynoun | An obligation, debt or responsibility owed to someone. |
| attributionnoun | The act of attributing something. |
| competencenoun | (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role. |
⚡ Words Strongly Associated with "Responsibility"
These words statistically appear in the same text as "responsibility" (Google Books Ngrams).
🎨 Adjectives for "Responsibility"
Popular adjectives used to describe this word in books.
🏷️ Nouns for "Responsibility"
Common nouns this word is used to describe.
📝 Common Phrases with "Responsibility"
Words that come before
🌐 Broader and Narrower Concepts
More General (hypernyms)
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