liability

noun

ly-uh-BIL-i-tee/laɪəˈbɪlɪti/

Pluralliabilities

5 meanings of liability

1
what you owenouncountable or uncountable
Something you owe to someone, like money or a duty.
The company would not accept liability for the broken window.
After the shop closed, the owners still had many liabilities to pay off.
Similarresponsibility, obligation, debt
Note
2
drawbacknouncountable
Someone or something that causes problems, holds others back, or puts them in danger.
The broken fence is a liability because the dog keeps getting out.
His bad temper became a liability at work.
Similarburden, drawback, handicap, hindrance
Oppositeasset
Note
3
accountingnouncountable
In accounting, any item on the right side of a balance sheet.
The bank loan is shown as a liability on the company's balance sheet.
The accountant added up all the liabilities and compared them with what the shop owned.
Similardebt
Oppositeasset
Note
4
weak playernounderogatorycolloquialcountable
A person on a team who causes more trouble than help.
Our goalie let in five easy goals. He's a total liability!
I was a liability on the dance team until I learned the steps.
Similarhindrance, burden
Oppositeasset
Note
5
tendencynoununcountable
The fact of being easily affected by something.
Her liability to colds kept her indoors most of the winter.
The old road's liability to flooding made spring travel hard.
Similarsusceptibility, vulnerability
Oppositeresistance, immunity

Practice

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Origin

This word is made from liable and the ending -ity.