obligation

noun

ob·​li·​ga·​tion ˌä-blə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the action of obligating oneself to a course of action (as by a promise or vow)

2

a

: something (such as a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom) that obligates one to a course of action

made an obligation to pay their children's college expenses

b

: a debt security (such as a mortgage or corporate bond)

c

: a commitment (as by a government) to pay a particular sum of money

also : an amount owed under such an obligation

Unable to meet its obligations, the company went into bankruptcy.

3

a

: a condition or feeling of being obligated

felt an obligation to vote

b

: a debt of gratitude

returned the favor as an obligation

4

: something one is bound to do : duty, responsibility

countries in which military service is an obligation

fulfilled their familial obligations

Synonyms

• burden
• charge
• commitment
• devoir
• do [archaic]
• duty
• imperative
• incumbency
• need
• office
• responsibility

Examples of obligation in a Sentence

She believes that all people have a moral obligation to defend human rights.

He argues that people in a community have certain obligations to each other.

She failed to fulfill her obligations as a parent.

Recent Examples on the Web

Is disaster relief a federal obligation, a collective insurance policy for the nation? —Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

The masters of ballyhoo chopped it up on the delicate handling of awards campaigns, the elusiveness of Gen Z consumers and how marketing around blockbusters and franchises is now a year-round obligation to keep fans engaged and interested. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025

This idea, that Israel’s conduct in Gaza is in line with the U.S. military’s understanding of its own legal obligations, has become the general consensus among American military lawyers and their allies in the academy in recent years. —Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025

At its quarterly earnings call in January, AT&T CEO John Stankey, said the company had begun the process to be relieved of its obligations to provide service on some of its old wire networks, a transcript posted online shows. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English obligacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French obligacion, borrowed from Latin obligātiōn-, obligātiō, from obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, place under a legal or moral constraint" + -tiōn- -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at oblige

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing obligation

• holy day of obligation
• not under any obligation
• sense of obligation
• under no legal obligation
• under no obligation
• without obligation

Rhymes for obligation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

obligation

noun

ob·​li·​ga·​tion ˌäb-lə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: an act of making oneself responsible for doing something

2

a

: something (as a promise or contract) that requires one to do something

b

: something one must do : duty

3

: a feeling of being indebted for an act of kindness

Legal Definition

obligation

noun

ob·​li·​ga·​tion ˌä-blə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: a promise, acknowledgment, or agreement (as a contract) that binds one to a specific performance (as payment)

also : the binding power of such an agreement or indication

held that the amendment did not unconstitutionally impair the obligations of contracts

—Davis v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 521 N.W.2d 366 (1994)

2

: a debt security (as a corporate or government bond)

— collateralized debt obligation

: a security backed by a pool of diversified securities that usually do not include mortgages

— collateralized loan obligation

: a security backed by a pool of commercial loans

— collateralized mortgage obligation

: a bond collateralized by a pool of mortgage obligations or pass-through securities and paid according to the maturity and amortization schedule of its class and not directly from the underlying obligations

called also CMO

3

: what one is obligated to do, satisfy, or fulfill: as

a

: a commitment to pay a particular amount of money

does not create a debt, liability, or other obligation, legal or moral

—State v. Florida Dev. Fin. Corp., 650 So. 2d 14 (1995)

also : an amount owed in such a commitment

b

: a duty arising from law, contract, or morality

had a legal obligation as an employer

a contractual obligation

4

in the civil law of Louisiana : a relationship that binds one party to a performance (as a payment or transfer) or nonperformance for another party see also contract, offense, quasi-offense

Note: An obligation under civil law may arise by operation of law, naturally, or by contract or other declaration of will. The elements of an obligation are: the parties, an object, the relationship by virtue of which one party is bound to perform for the other's benefit, and, in the case of conventional obligations, a cause.

— conditional obligation

: an obligation that is dependent on an uncertain event

— conventional obligation

: an obligation taking the form of a contract

— heritable obligation

: an obligation that may be enforced by the successor of the obligee or against the successor of the obligor

— joint obligation

: an obligation binding different obligors to a performance for one obligee

: an obligation binding one obligor to a performance for different obligees

Note: In civil law, one of two or more obligors in a joint obligation is only liable for his or her portion of the performance.

— natural obligation

: an obligation arising from moral duty that is implied but not enforceable by the law

— several obligation

: any of the obligations binding different obligors to separate performances for one obligee

: any of the obligations binding an obligor to separate performances for different obligees

— solidary obligation

: an obligation under which any of two or more obligors can be held liable for the entire performance (as payment of a debt)

Note: Solidary obligation is similar to joint and several liability in common law.