RESPONSIBILITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does responsibility mean? 

• RESPONSIBILITY (noun)
  The noun RESPONSIBILITY has 3 senses:

1. the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

2. the proper sphere or extent of your activities

3. a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct

  Familiarity information: RESPONSIBILITY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RESPONSIBILITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

duty; obligation; responsibility

Context example:

every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty

Hypernyms ("responsibility" is a kind of...):

social control (control exerted (actively or passively) by group action)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "responsibility"):

guardianship; keeping; safekeeping (the responsibility of a guardian or keeper)

demand; requirement (required activity)

prerequisite; requirement (something that is required in advance)

white man's burden (the supposed responsibility of the white race to provide care for their non-white subjects)

line of duty (all that is normally required in some area of responsibility)

legal duty (acts which the law requires be done or forborne)

incumbency (a duty that is incumbent upon you)

imperative (some duty that is essential and urgent)

filial duty (duty of a child to its parents)

civic duty; civic responsibility (the responsibilities of a citizen)

burden of proof (the duty of proving a disputed charge)

noblesse oblige (the obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous (often used ironically))

moral obligation (an obligation arising out of considerations of right and wrong)

job (the responsibility to do something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The proper sphere or extent of your activities

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

province; responsibility

Context example:

it was his province to take care of himself

Hypernyms ("responsibility" is a kind of...):

area; arena; domain; field; orbit; sphere (a particular environment or walk of life)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "responsibility"):

ecclesiastical province (the district within the jurisdiction of an archbishop or a metropolitan or one of the territorial divisions of an ecclesiastical order)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

responsibility; responsibleness

Context example:

he holds a position of great responsibility

Hypernyms ("responsibility" is a kind of...):

trustiness; trustworthiness (the trait of deserving trust and confidence)

Attribute:

responsible (worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable)

irresponsible (showing lack of care for consequences)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "responsibility"):

fault (responsibility for a bad situation or event)

accountability; answerability; answerableness (responsibility to someone or for some activity)

dependability; dependableness; reliability; reliableness (the quality of being dependable or reliable)

Holonyms ("responsibility" is a part of...):

character; fiber; fibre (the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions)

Antonym:

irresponsibility (a form of untrustworthiness; the trait of lacking a sense of responsibility and not feeling accountable for your actions)

Derivation:

responsible (worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable)

 Context examples 

Different from the previously specified or mentioned type of person who has primary responsibility for the assistance and supervision for an individual.

(Other Caregiver, NCI Thesaurus)

Please God, I shall never, never forget them, nor the grave and sweet responsibilities I have taken upon me.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Scale (PDQUALIF) My Parkinson's symptoms have affected my family role and responsibility.

(PDQUALIF - Family Relationship Affected, NCI Thesaurus)

The characteristic that defines the responsibility of the investigator on a particular study.

(Investigator by Role in Study, NCI Thesaurus)

Saturn and Pluto will oppose this full moon, suggesting you are thinking long term and are willing to take on a new responsibility involving a romantic relationship or a child.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“I would not engage in such a charge,” cried Fanny, in a shrinking accent; “in such an office of high responsibility!”

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Responsibility of this sort was a new thing to me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

To take our future on myself, will be the next great happiness—the next to his release from all trust and responsibility—that I can know.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A question about whether an individual's fatigue interferes or interfered with certain duties or responsibilities.

(Fatigue Interferes with Certain Duties and Responsibilities, NCI Thesaurus)

There are many new responsibilities when you have a baby.

(Baby Health Checkup, NIH)