Onus Meaning
/ˈəʊnəs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA legal obligation.
nounBurden of proof, onus probandi.
Sentence Examples
The onus is on the teacher to make sure the student is actually learning something.
The onus is on all of them.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of proving the accusation lies on the person making the claim.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of proving the defendant's guilt lies entirely with the prosecution in a criminal trial.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₃enh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃énh₂os Proto-Italic *onos Latin onuslbor. English onus Learned borrowing from Latin onus (literally “burden”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The argument is founded on a principle which is now acknowledged to be universal; and the onus of disproof must lie with those who may be bold enough to take up the position that a region exists where at last the Principle of Continuity fails."
— 1883, Henry Drummond, Natural Law in the Spiritual World:
"Geraldine evades the onus of ambition by subordinating it to the service of her family, and escapes the onus of sexuality by bodily mutilation"
— 1993, Dorothy Mermin, Godiva's Ride: Women of Letters in England, 1830-1880, page 19:
"... what might be called "onus-shifting" — each side trying to make a record and place blame on the other for the division of Europe and the Cold War itself."
— 1977, Daniel Yergin, Shattered Peace: The Origins of the Cold War and the National Security State, page 6:
"The onus isn't on us to produce something great every time. The onus is on the public to decide whether they like it or not."
— 2000, Beatles with Brian Roylance, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, The Beatles Anthology, page 174:
"This throws the onus on freight operators' train planners to devise ingenious solutions to finding new paths."
— 2023 September 6, Anthony Lambert, “Train paths: more space for freight?”, in RAIL, number 991, page 34:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of proving the accusation lies on the person making the claim.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of proving the defendant's guilt lies entirely with the prosecution in a criminal trial.