responsibility definition

English

Etymology

From responsible +‎ -ity. Although the components are of French origin, the compound appears to have been formed in English. Later-attested French responsabilité is modeled on the English word, and Italian responsabilità is in turn modeled on the French.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˌspɒn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/, enPR: rĭ-spŏn'sə-bĭlʹĭ-tē
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/, [ɹɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ə.ɾi]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

responsibility (countable and uncountable, plural responsibilities)

1. The state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable. [from 18th c.]

   Responsibility is a heavy burden.

2. The state of being liable, culpable, or responsible for something in particular.
   • 1960 December, “Talking of Trains: The riding of B.R. coaches”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 705–706:

     After all, it is undeniable that the B.R. standard coach scored highly in comparative trials with other European railway vehicles on the Continent a few years ago, so that B.R. civil engineers must share responsibility for any defects in its behaviour over here.

   • 2020 March, Joshua Leifer, “Led Astray”, in The Baffler‎^[1], number 50:

     The vast majority of American Jews not only greatly dislike President Trump but also believe he has made them less safe: according to a May 2019 poll, nearly three-quarters of Jewish voters believe American Jews are less secure under Trump than they were before, 71 percent disapprove of Trump’s overall job performance, and nearly 60 percent believe that he bears at least some responsibility for the synagogue shootings carried out by white nationalists in Pittsburgh and Poway.

3. A duty, obligation or liability for which someone is held accountable.

   Why didn't you clean the house? That was your responsibility!

   • April 12 1945, Harry S. Truman, Address before a Joint Session of the Congress:

     The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not to dominate the world

   • 1961 May 9, Newton N. Minow, Television and the Public Interest:

     If parents, teachers, and ministers conducted their responsibilities by following the ratings, children would have a steady diet of ice cream, school holidays, and no Sunday school.

4. (military) 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.
5. (military) The obligation for the proper custody, care, and safekeeping of property or funds entrusted to the possession or supervision of an individual.

Synonyms

• responsibleness (may be considered nonstandard)

Derived terms

Related terms

• see respond

Translations

See also

• accountability

References

• “responsibility”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• responsibility in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• “responsibility”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “responsibility”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Responsibility”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 1 (Q–R), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 542, column 2.
• Feltus, C.; Petit, M. (2009). "Building a Responsibility Model Including Accountability, Capability and Commitment", Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ( IEEE ), Fukuoka, 2009. Building a Responsibility Model Including Accountability, Capability and Commitment