Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

responsibility

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
noun British English pronunciation: responsibility /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/ 
Word Forms
Close
singularresponsibility
pluralresponsibilities
 
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    [uncountable] the state or job of being in charge of someone or something and of making sure that what they do or what happens to them is right or satisfactory

    She has a lot of responsibility as a nurse.

    responsibility for:

    Overall responsibility for the school lies with the head teacher.

    have responsibility for (doing) something:

    You will have responsibility for sales and marketing.

    take responsibility for (doing) something:

    Would someone take responsibility for bringing Paul home?

    assume responsibility for (doing) something:

    Serrano immediately assumed temporary responsibility for foreign affairs.

    a position of responsibility:

    People in positions of responsibility cannot behave like this.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of responsibility
  2. 2
    [countable] a duty that you have to do because it is part of your job or position

    She is my responsibility, now that her parents are gone.

    a responsibility to do something:

    It is your responsibility to provide us with concrete evidence.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of responsibility
    1. a.
      [countable/uncountable] a moral duty to behave in a particular way
      responsibility to/towards:

      What is the individual's responsibility to others in modern society?

      have a responsibility to/towards someone:

      We have a responsibility to our shareholders and to our depositors.

      have a responsibility to do something:

      We have a responsibility to make sure this never happens again.

      a sense of responsibility:

      Parenthood brings a huge sense of responsibility.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of responsibility
  3. 3
    [uncountable] blame for something that has happened
    claim/accept responsibility for something:

    No one claimed responsibility for the attack on the embassy.

    take responsibility for (doing)something:

    Allan has got to take responsibility for the failure of the deal.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of responsibility

This is the British English definition of responsibility. View American English definition of responsibility.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for responsibility.

 

caxirola

a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

glean

to learn small pieces of information by asking questions or watching or listening carefully

Open Dictionary

pierce the corporate veil

… the decision to treat the rights and duties of a company as being the same as the rights and duties of its shareholders

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog