liable

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   held legally responsible

   men between the ages of 18 and 35 were liable for military service

2. 2
   adj

   Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable.

   The surety is liable for the debt of his principal.

3. 3
   adj

   Subject; susceptible; prone.

   This crime is liable to imprisonment for life.

4. 4
   adj

   Exposed to a certain contingency or causality, more or less probable.

   Electronic devices are liable to malfunction when exposed to extreme heat.

5. 5
   adj

   Likely.

   Someone is liable to slip on your icy sidewalk.

6. 6
   adj

   at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant

7. 7
   adj

   (often followed by `to') likely to be affected with

8. 8
   adj

   subject to legal action

Etymology

From Old French lier (“to bind”), from Latin ligare (“to bind, to tie”).