Responsibility Meaning
/ɹɪˌspɒn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable.
nounThe state of being liable, culpable, or responsible for something in particular.
Sentence Examples
You have a responsibility to explain that behavior to me.
You are not excused from the responsibility for this serious situation.
Taking care of a pet is a big responsibility for children.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is the parent's ____ to provide food and shelter for their children.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She accepted full ____ for the error and immediately set about finding a way to correct it.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1960 December, “Talking of Trains: The riding of B.R. coaches”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 705–706:
"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."
— 2020 March, Joshua Leifer, “Led Astray”, in The Baffler, number 50:
"The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not to dominate the world"
— April 12 1945, Harry S. Truman, Address before a Joint Session of the Congress:
"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."
— 1961 May 9, Newton N. Minow, Television and the Public Interest:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is the parent's ____ to provide food and shelter for their children.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She accepted full ____ for the error and immediately set about finding a way to correct it.