obligation
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A duty or responsibility that one is morally or legally bound to do.
A binding agreement or promise; a condition that imposes a requirement; a feeling of being indebted or required to show gratitude.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a sense of constraint, duty, or indebtedness, either externally imposed or internally felt. Often used in legal, moral, and social contexts. The related noun 'obligation' is more formal and concrete than the adjective 'obligatory'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. British English may slightly favour 'have an obligation to' while American English also uses 'be obligated to' (verb form).
Connotations
In both, it carries formal connotations of duty, whether legal, moral, or social. No strong regional connotative difference.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with high frequency in legal, academic, and business contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have an obligation to do sthto be under an obligation (to sb)to feel an obligation to do sthto impose an obligation on sbto fulfil/meet an obligationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “under no obligation”
- “honour one's obligations”
- “the obligations of office”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A clause in the contract outlines your payment obligations for the next quarter.
Academic
The philosopher argued that a social contract creates mutual obligations between citizens and the state.
Everyday
I feel no obligation to attend every single family event.
Technical
In civil law, an obligation arises from a contract, quasi-contract, delict, or quasi-delict.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The terms obligate the company to maintain the equipment.
- He felt obligated to offer his assistance.
American English
- The contract obligates us to finish by June.
- I don't feel obligated to explain myself.
adverb
British English
- He was obligatorily polite to his superiors.
- The form must be obligatorily signed in blue ink.
American English
- The course includes an obligatorily graded presentation.
- They were obligatorily silent during the ceremony.
adjective
British English
- The obligatory safety briefing took twenty minutes.
- Wearing a tie is not obligatory for the meeting.
American English
- The obligatory background check is now complete.
- Attendance is obligatory for all team members.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Parents have an obligation to care for their children.
- You have no obligation to buy anything.
- Paying taxes is a legal obligation for all citizens.
- She felt a strong moral obligation to tell the truth.
- The treaty imposes certain environmental obligations on all signatory states.
- He was under no obligation to disclose his personal finances.
- The court's ruling discharged the defendant from any further contractual obligations.
- Philanthropy should stem from generosity, not a perceived social obligation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OBLIGation' as an 'OBLI-GATION' where 'OBLI' sounds like 'owe a' + 'gation' sounds like 'station' (a duty post). So, you 'owe a duty' at your station.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBLIGATION IS A BURDEN (shoulder a heavy obligation), OBLIGATION IS A BINDING TIE (bound by obligation), OBLIGATION IS A DEBT (repay an obligation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating Russian 'обязательство' (more like 'commitment/undertaking') directly for all contexts of 'obligation'. 'Obligation' is often stronger.
- Do not confuse with 'обязанность' which can be a simple 'duty' or 'chore' without the binding legal/moral force of 'obligation'.
- The phrase 'under an obligation' does not translate directly to 'под обязательством'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'I have an obligation for doing it' (correct: 'I have an obligation to do it').
- Confusing 'obligation' (noun) with 'obligatory' (adjective). E.g., 'It is an obligation class' (wrong) vs. 'It is an obligatory class' or 'There is an obligation to attend' (correct).
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'duty' or 'have to' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the core meaning of 'obligation'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Obligation' often implies a specific, formal, or binding constraint (legal, moral, contractual). 'Duty' is a broader moral or social imperative. 'Responsibility' focuses more on accountability for tasks or outcomes, often without the same sense of external constraint.
Not necessarily. While it implies a constraint, obligations can be positive, such as the obligation to help family or fulfill a promise, which are seen as part of social bonding and integrity.
The direct verb form is 'obligate', meaning to bind legally or morally. The more common related verb is 'oblige' (e.g., 'The law obliges us to stop'). 'Obligation' itself is only a noun.
It means being legally or morally bound to do something. Structure: 'be under an obligation to [someone] to do [something]'. Example: 'I am under an obligation to my client to keep this information confidential.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Law and Regulation
C1 · 46 words · Legal language and regulatory frameworks.
Philosophy and Ethics
C1 · 50 words · Philosophical concepts and ethical reasoning.