responsibility

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɹɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/ UK /ɹɪˌspɒn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ See IPA manual

Freq #1686

Meanings

1

noun
A duty or task that you are expected to deal with.

Cleaning the kitchen is your responsibility this week.
2

noun
The state of being in charge of something and answerable for it.

Taking care of a pet is a big responsibility.
3

noun
Blame for something that has gone wrong.

The company accepted responsibility for the accident.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a duty or task that you are... duty

3 noun · blame for something that... guilt

More responsibleness

Word family

Forms responsibilities

Derived forms co-responsibilityinterresponsibilityirresponsibilitynonresponsibility

Related forms accountability respond

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

social responsibility
a duty to consider and protect the well-being of other people in society

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From responsible + -ity. Although the components are of French origin, the compound appears to have been formed in English. Later-attested French responsabilité is modeled on the English word, and Italian responsabilità is in turn modeled on the French.

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# responsibility

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɹɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/
**IPA (UK):** /ɹɪˌspɒn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
**Frequency rank:** 1686

## Meanings
1. A duty or task that you are expected to deal with.
2. The state of being in charge of something and answerable for it.
3. Blame for something that has gone wrong.

## Examples
- Cleaning the kitchen is your responsibility this week.
- Taking care of a pet is a big responsibility.
- The company accepted responsibility for the accident.

## Synonyms
- responsibleness

## Derived Forms
- co-responsibility
- interresponsibility
- irresponsibility
- nonresponsibility

## Related Forms
- accountability
- respond

## Etymology
From responsible + -ity. Although the components are of French origin, the compound appears to have been formed in English. Later-attested French responsabilité is modeled on the English word, and Italian responsabilità is in turn modeled on the French.

## AI Etymology
Responsibility comes from responsible + -ity. Although the components are of French origin, the compound appears to have been formed in English. Later-attested French responsabilité is modeled on the English word, and Italian responsabilità is in turn modeled on the French. Modern senses include a duty or task that you are expected to deal with. and the state of being in charge of something and answerable for it.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as co-responsibility, interresponsibility, irresponsibility, and nonresponsibility and related forms such as accountability and respond.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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