liability
C1Formal (in legal/business contexts), Neutral (in extended meanings)
Definition
Meaning
Something for which one is legally responsible, especially a financial debt or obligation; a person or thing that is a burden or disadvantage.
The state of being legally responsible for something; a drawback or handicap; someone or something that is likely to cause embarrassment or difficulty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In law, it refers to a legal obligation. In business, it's an item on a balance sheet representing what a company owes. In common usage, it often refers to a person causing trouble or a disadvantage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. The legal and business usage is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations. 'Tax liability' is a standard phrase in both. 'He's a liability' (meaning a person causing problems) is common in both.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in US English in corporate and legal discourse, but negligible difference overall.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
liability for (something)liability to (do something)liability of (someone/something)hold liabilityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A liability (on one's hands)”
- “More of a liability than an asset”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
On the balance sheet, accounts payable are listed as a current liability.
Academic
The study examined the shift from strict liability to fault-based liability in tort law.
Everyday
His knee injury became a real liability during the hiking trip.
Technical
The manufacturer has product liability for defects occurring within the warranty period.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The law does not *liabilitise* individuals for acts of nature. (Rare/technical)
American English
- The statute could *liabilitize* corporations for data breaches. (Rare/technical)
adjective
British English
- The director has *liability* insurance. (As a noun adjunct)
- He is in a *liable* position. (Note: 'liable' is the adjective form)
American English
- We need *liability* coverage for the event. (As a noun adjunct)
- The company is *liable* for damages. (Note: 'liable' is the adjective form)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Driving without insurance is a big liability.
- The company has many liabilities.
- The new regulation increases the liability of software developers for security flaws.
- His lack of experience proved a liability in the complex negotiations.
- The court assessed the extent of the defendant's liability for the environmental damage.
- While his celebrity was once an asset, his recent scandals have transformed him into a political liability.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: LIABILITY sounds like 'lie-ability' – if you lie about something, it could become a legal LIABILITY (a problem you're responsible for).
Conceptual Metaphor
BURDEN (A liability is a weight one must carry), DEBT (A liability is something one owes).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'возможность' (possibility/opportunity).
- В юридическом контексте 'обязательство' – точнее, чем 'ответственность'.
- В разговорной речи о человеке: 'обуза', 'проблема', а не просто 'ответственность'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'liability' to mean 'ability' (false friend).
- Confusing 'liable for' (responsible for) with 'liable to' (likely to).
- Using plural 'liabilities' for a singular disadvantage (e.g., 'He is a liabilities').
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'liability' NOT typically refer to a disadvantage?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Liability' often implies a legal or financial obligation with specific consequences, while 'responsibility' is broader and can be moral, social, or task-related.
No, 'liability' is inherently negative or neutral. Even in accounting, it represents an obligation (debt), contrasted with the positive 'asset'.
It's a legal structure (like an LLC or Ltd. company) where an owner's financial risk is limited to their investment in the business, protecting personal assets from business debts.
Yes, this is a common figurative use meaning the person's actions or presence negatively impacts the team's performance or reputation.
Collections
Part of a collection
Business Vocabulary
B1 · 50 words · Fundamental language of commerce and trade.
Economics Terms
B2 · 50 words · Key vocabulary for economics and financial systems.
Advanced Business English
C1 · 43 words · Sophisticated language for business and finance.
Law and Regulation
C1 · 46 words · Legal language and regulatory frameworks.
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