noun
Common
liability
leye-uh-BIH-lih-tee
Liability (noun) means a legal or financial responsibility for a debt, loss, or obligation. Example: “The company accepted liability for the damage to the neighbour's fence.”
noun
1
A legal or financial responsibility for a debt, loss, or obligation.
"The company accepted liability for the damage to the neighbour's fence."
"The driver was found to have liability for the accident."
"The contract limits the company's liability in case of delay."
2
A person or thing that causes trouble or holds a group back.
"That old car turned out to be a liability on long journeys."
"An untrained guard can be a liability to the whole building."
"His hot temper made him a liability to the team."
How to use liability
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLegal or financial responsibility for something — or, informally, someone who causes more problems than they solve.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
legal liability
limit liability
a liability to the team
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Word forms
- Plural
- liabilities
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The company accepted _____ for the damage to the neighbour's fence.
Etymology
From "liable" + -ity, ultimately from Latin ligare ("to bind"), the same root that gives us "ligament" and "oblige."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for liability
See all rhymes for liability →Frequently asked questions
What does “liability” mean?
The word “liability” means a legal or financial responsibility for a debt, loss, or obligation. In plain terms, legal or financial responsibility for something — or, informally, someone who causes more problems than they solve.
How do you pronounce “liability”?
“Liability” is pronounced leye-uh-BIH-lih-tee (/laɪəˈbɪlɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “liability” in a sentence?
Here is “liability” used in a sentence: “The driver was found to have liability for the accident.”
What part of speech is “liability”?
“Liability” is a noun.
Where does the word “liability” come from?
The word “liability” comes from Latin. From "liable" + -ity, ultimately from Latin ligare ("to bind"), the same root that gives us "ligament" and "oblige.".
Is “liability” a common word?
“Liability” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “liability” have?
“Liability” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a legal or financial responsibility for a debt, loss, or obligation.
What is the difference between a liability and an asset?
A liability is a legal or financial responsibility for a debt, loss, or obligation, meaning something you owe. An asset is something of value that you own, so the two sit on opposite sides of a balance sheet, with assets minus liabilities showing net worth.
What is the difference between liability and responsibility?
Liability specifically refers to legal or financial accountability for a debt, loss, or obligation, often with binding consequences. Responsibility is broader and can describe any duty or task, without necessarily implying that the law can enforce it.
When is 'liability' used to describe a person?
Besides its financial meaning, 'liability' can describe a person or thing that causes trouble or holds a group back, as in 'his temper made him a liability to the team.' This use is figurative and carries a negative sense.
What are common collocations with 'liability'?
Common phrases include 'limited liability,' 'liability insurance,' 'personal liability,' and 'assume liability.' These usually appear in legal, financial, and business contexts where responsibility for a debt or loss is at stake.
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