responsibility
rih-spon-suh-BIHL-ih-tee
Responsibility (noun) means the state of being accountable for something, or the duty to deal with it. Example: “Feeding the cat is your responsibility while your sister is away on holiday.”
noun
1
The state of being accountable for something, or the duty to deal with it.
"If parents, teachers, and ministers conducted their responsibilities by following the ratings, children would have a steady diet of ice cream, school holidays, and no Sunday school."
— Newton N. Minow, Television and the Public Interest (1961)
"Feeding the cat is your responsibility while your sister is away on holiday."
"Responsibility is a heavy burden."
"As team leader, she has responsibility for the whole project."
"Taking responsibility for your mistakes builds trust."
"Why didn't you clean the house? That was your responsibility!"
How to use responsibility
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing the person who is in charge of, or accountable for, something.
Common pairings
take responsibility
a sense of responsibility
shared responsibility
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Word forms
- Plural
- responsibilities
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Feeding the cat is your _____ while your sister is away on holiday.
Etymology
Formed in English from responsible plus -ity.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for responsibility
See all rhymes for responsibility →Frequently asked questions
What does “responsibility” mean?
The word “responsibility” means the state of being accountable for something, or the duty to deal with it. In plain terms, being the person who is in charge of, or accountable for, something.
How do you pronounce “responsibility”?
“Responsibility” is pronounced rih-spon-suh-BIHL-ih-tee (/ɹɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “responsibility” in a sentence?
Here is “responsibility” used in a sentence: “As team leader, she has responsibility for the whole project.”
What is another word for “responsibility”?
Words with a similar meaning to “responsibility” include responsibleness.
What part of speech is “responsibility”?
“Responsibility” is a noun.
Is “responsibility” a common word?
“Responsibility” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between responsibility and accountability?
Responsibility is the duty to do a task or take care of something — the ongoing job of handling it. Accountability is answering for the outcome once it's done, taking the credit or the blame. You can share responsibility across a team, but accountability usually rests with one person who owns the result.
What are the types of responsibility?
Common kinds include personal responsibility (your own choices and duties), professional responsibility (obligations at work), legal responsibility (duties enforced by law), moral responsibility (answering for right and wrong), and collective or social responsibility (shared duties toward a group or society). Most people carry several of these at once.
Can responsibility be taught?
Yes. Responsibility is widely regarded as a learned trait rather than an inborn one. Children develop it through chores, consequences, and trust given gradually. Adults strengthen it by taking ownership of tasks and honoring commitments. Because it grows with practice and accountability, both parents and workplaces actively cultivate it.
Why is responsibility important?
Responsibility builds trust, since people rely on those who follow through on their duties. It underpins teamwork, safety, and fairness, because shared tasks only work when each person owns their part. On a personal level, taking responsibility gives you control over outcomes rather than leaving them to chance or blame.
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