adj
Common
liable
LEYE-uh-buhl
Liable (adj) means Legally or financially responsible for something. Example: “If your dog bites someone, you may be held liable for the medical costs.”
adj
1
Legally or financially responsible for something.
"If your dog bites someone, you may be held liable for the medical costs."
"The landlord could be held liable for the faulty wiring."
"Drivers are liable for any damage caused in an accident."
2
Likely to do or experience something, especially something unwanted.
"People who skip breakfast are liable to feel tired by mid-morning."
"The path is liable to flood whenever it rains heavily."
"This old ladder is liable to collapse under too much weight."
How to use liable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLegally responsible for something, or likely to do or suffer something.
Common mistake
When it means "likely," it's almost always followed by "to" plus a verb: "liable to break," not "liable break."
Common pairings
held liable
liable for damages
liable to happen
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more liable
- Superlative
- most liable
Fill the gap
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If your dog bites someone, you may be held _____ for the medical costs.
Etymology
From Old French lier ("to bind"), from Latin ligare ("to bind, tie").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for liable
See all rhymes for liable →Frequently asked questions
What does “liable” mean?
The word “liable” means legally or financially responsible for something. In plain terms, legally responsible for something, or likely to do or suffer something.
How do you pronounce “liable”?
“Liable” is pronounced LEYE-uh-buhl (/ˈlaɪ̯əbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “liable” in a sentence?
Here is “liable” used in a sentence: “The landlord could be held liable for the faulty wiring.”
What part of speech is “liable”?
“Liable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “liable” come from?
The word “liable” comes from Latin. From Old French lier ("to bind"), from Latin ligare ("to bind, tie").
Is “liable” a common word?
“Liable” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “liable” have?
“Liable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: legally or financially responsible for something.
What is the difference between 'liable' and 'likely'?
Both can express probability, but 'liable' suggests likelihood of something unwanted or risky, as in 'the rope is liable to snap,' while 'likely' is neutral and applies to any probable outcome. You would say 'it's likely to rain,' but 'the old wiring is liable to fail.'
What is the difference between 'liable' and 'responsible'?
In legal contexts both mean answerable, but 'liable' specifically means being legally or financially obligated, often for damages or debts. 'Responsible' is broader and can describe general duty or accountability without implying legal enforcement.
What is the difference between 'liable' and 'libel'?
Despite the similar sound, they are unrelated. 'Liable' is an adjective meaning legally responsible or likely to happen, while 'libel' refers to a false written statement that damages someone's reputation.
What preposition follows 'liable'?
'Liable' takes 'for' when it means legally responsible ('liable for the damage') and 'to' when it means likely to experience something ('liable to forget'). The preposition signals which of the two meanings is intended.
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