responsibility

noun

re·​spon·​si·​bil·​i·​ty ri-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce responsibility (audio)
plural responsibilities
1
: the quality or state of being responsible: such as
a
: moral, legal, or mental accountability
2
: something for which one is responsible : burden
has neglected his responsibilities

Examples of responsibility in a Sentence

… Landau's piece, examining the fan's, and the journalist's responsibility to rock stars … Lawrence Dietz, Los Angeles Times Book Review, 23 May 1971
A great soprano has a responsibility to her public … Robert Evett, Atlantic, September 1970
The responsibility for engineering the line of cars which in 1908 evolved the immortal Model T … John Kenneth Galbraith, New York Times Book Review, 28 Feb. 1954
Anthony Burton had once said that this was your responsibility toward society. John P. Marquand, Atlantic, Nov. 1947
The boys denied any responsibility for the damage to the fence. A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. The janitor has many responsibilities. Mowing the lawn is your responsibility. She has to deal with a lot of family and work responsibilities. It is your responsibility to give the company two weeks notice if you decide to leave. In her new position, she will have much more responsibility. We have a responsibility to protect the environment. The government's responsibility is to serve the public. The principal has responsibility for 450 students and a staff of 35.
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.
Ben Stevens, brought to Palace in 2015 by Alan Pardew as head of performance analysis, became the assistant sporting director in July 2024 but is unlikely to take on Freedman’s role by himself, even if does adopt more responsibility. Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025 Soundview has taken responsibility for the ongoing remediation, and the state continues to closely monitor that work. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025 Some Western intelligence and national security officials caution there is no smoking gun that signals Moscow's direct responsibility in all of the recent cable cutting incidents. Erin Banco and Mari Saito, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025 And while Daniel is clear that organizations have a responsibility to care for employee safety, dignity and overall experience at work, harmful behaviors and habits must be addressed. Aparna Rae, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for responsibility

Word History

Etymology

see responsible

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of responsibility was in 1642

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Responsibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsibility. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

responsibility

noun
re·​spon·​si·​bil·​i·​ty ri-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce responsibility (audio)
plural responsibilities
1
: the quality or state of being responsible
2
: the quality of being dependable
3
: something for which one is responsible
neglected his responsibilities

More from Merriam-Webster on responsibility

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