irresponsible

1 of 2

adjective

ir·​re·​spon·​si·​ble ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl 

: 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

ˌir-i-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

irresponsibleness

ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun

irresponsibly

ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

irresponsible

2 of 2

noun

: a person who is irresponsible

Synonyms

Adjective

• daredevil
• devil-may-care
• foolhardy
• harum-scarum
• hell-for-leather
• kamikaze
• reckless

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

Adjective

Despite creating jobs and potential environmental benefits, chronic mismanagement and escalating costs have eroded public trust, making continued taxpayer support irresponsible. —Phillip Molnar, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025

While opponents decried the debt package as financially irresponsible, allies of the mayor defended it as a typical and crucial way to fund basic infrastructure work. —Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025

This reflects the struggle many women face with emotionally immature and irresponsible partners. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Rochelle sees her mother as irresponsible and unreliable, but Vanessa's actions are driven by her love for her children. —Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for irresponsible

• responsible
• sponsible

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 

: not responsible : mentally inadequate to bear responsibility

irresponsibility

-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural irresponsibilities