responsibility

UK: /rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti/

US: /rɪˌspɑnsəˈbɪlɪti/

US: (ri spon′sə bil′i tē)

Inflections of 'responsibility' (n): npl: responsibilities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•spon•si•bil•i•ty /rɪˌspɑnsəˈbɪlɪti/   n., pl. -ties. 

1. the state or fact of being responsible:
   [uncountable] Will anyone assume responsibility for this?
2. a burden placed upon one who is responsible:
   [countable] the responsibilities of being a father.
3. a person or thing for which one is responsible:
   [countable] Child care is my responsibility.
4. reliability or dependability, esp. in meeting payments:
   [uncountable] financial responsibility; a job requiring some responsibility.

See -spond-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•spon•si•bil•i•ty  (ri spon′sə bil′i tē), n., pl. -ties. 

1. the state or fact of being responsible.
2. an instance of being responsible:
   The responsibility for this mess is yours!
3. a particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible:
   the responsibilities of authority.
4. a person or thing for which one is responsible:
   A child is a responsibility to its parents.
5. reliability or dependability, esp. in meeting debts or payments.
6. on one's own responsibility, on one's own initiative or authority:
   He changed the order on his own responsibility.

• respons(ible) + -ibility 1780–90

Synonyms

• 1. answerability, accountability.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

responsibility / rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. the state or position of being responsible
2. a person or thing for which one is responsible