irresponsible

1 of 2

adjective

ir·​re·​spon·​si·​ble ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce irresponsible (audio)
: not responsible: such as
a
: lacking a sense of responsibility
b
: said or done with no sense of responsibility
irresponsible accusations
c
: unable especially mentally or financially to bear responsibility
d
: not answerable to higher authority
an irresponsible dictatorship
irresponsibility noun
irresponsibleness noun
irresponsibly adverb

irresponsible

2 of 2

noun

: a person who is irresponsible

Examples of irresponsible in a Sentence

Adjective He's too irresponsible to keep a job for more than a week. She made irresponsible comments that helped cause the riot. It would be irresponsible to ignore the threats.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
By failing to address the underlying causes of bird flu, the USDA's plan will likely cause more instability by continuing to reimburse farmers engaged in risky and irresponsible practices—while failing to safeguard public health. William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025 The declaration was denounced by many public health experts as unscientific and irresponsible. Rob Stein, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025 It was announced shortly before Feb. 14, which marked seven years since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland and as our newspapers remain filled with tragic and preventable homicides caused by irresponsible gun owners, this move is sickening. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2025 That would be fiscally irresponsible on the 49ers’ part considering Aiyuk, who is still recovering from knee reconstruction, would cost over $62 million against this year’s salary cap if traded, less than a year after signing his massive contract. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for irresponsible

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of irresponsible was in 1648

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Irresponsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irresponsible. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

irresponsible

adjective
ir·​re·​spon·​si·​ble
ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl
1
: not legally responsible
2
: having or showing no sense of responsibility
irresponsible behavior
3
: unable to bear responsibility
irresponsibility
-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
irresponsibly
-ˈspän(t)-sə-blē
adverb

Medical Definition

irresponsible

adjective
ir·​re·​spon·​si·​ble ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce irresponsible (audio)
: not responsible : mentally inadequate to bear responsibility
irresponsibility noun
plural irresponsibilities

More from Merriam-Webster on irresponsible

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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