responsibility
Pluralresponsibilities
- 1Something that is your job to do or take care of.
Like a job with your name on it: if it isn't done, people ask you why.
Keeping the younger children safe was her responsibility on the trip.
Taking out the trash is my responsibility every week.
UsageSay it is my responsibility to do something. You take on responsibilities and carry them out.
Similarobligation, duty
Note
- 2The state of having to answer for your actions and choices.
Like being the captain of a team: when things go wrong, you have to answer for them.
With more responsibility comes the need to make careful choices.
Being a parent comes with a lot of responsibility.
UsageSay a lot of responsibility, with no a before it. A responsibility usually means one job or duty.
Similaraccountability, answerability
- 3The fact of being to blame for something, or having to answer for what happened.
Like having your name on the thing that broke: everyone knows it was yours to handle.
The driver accepted responsibility for the crash.
No one wanted to take responsibility for the broken window.
UsageSay responsibility for something, as in take responsibility for a mistake.
Similarblame, liability, culpability, fault
Note
- 4The quality of being sensible, so that other people can trust you and depend on you.
She showed real responsibility by looking after her little brother all summer.
Having a part-time job helped him learn responsibility.
UsageSay a sense of responsibility. A person who has it is responsible.
Similarmaturity, reliability, dependability, trustworthiness
Oppositeirresponsibility, immaturity, unreliability
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of responsibility apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
It comes from the word "responsible" plus the ending "-ity." The word was likely made in English.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Responsibility was formed from responsible plus -ity. en.wiktionary.org
- The word was likely formed in English. es.wiktionary.org