responsibilities: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “responsibilities” mean?
Duties, tasks, or obligations that one is required to undertake, often arising from a specific role, job, or moral position.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Duties, tasks, or obligations that one is required to undertake, often arising from a specific role, job, or moral position.
The state or fact of being accountable or answerable for something within one's power, control, or management. It encompasses legal, moral, and social duties, as well as the broader burden of care or authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally common and used identically in both varieties. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Equally carries connotations of duty, maturity, and sometimes burden in both cultures.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in legal, administrative, business, and educational contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “responsibilities” in a Sentence
have + responsibilities + for + NP/gerundtake + on + responsibilitiesbe + responsible + for + NP/gerund (adjective form)responsibilities + include + NP/gerundfulfil/meet + one's + responsibilitiesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “responsibilities” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He responsibilities the team's budget. (Note: This is incorrect; 'responsibilities' is not a verb. A correct verb form is 'He is responsible for the team's budget.')
- The new role responsibilities him for client liaison. (Incorrect; correct: 'The new role makes him responsible for client liaison.')
American English
- She responsibilities the project's delivery. (Incorrect; correct: 'She is in charge of the project's delivery.')
- The contract responsibilities the vendor for maintenance. (Incorrect; correct: 'The contract holds the vendor responsible for maintenance.')
adverb
British English
- He acted responsibly throughout the crisis.
- Please dispose of the waste responsibly.
American English
- She manages her team very responsibly.
- Drive responsibly in wet conditions.
adjective
British English
- She is a highly responsible adult.
- The responsible authorities were notified immediately.
American English
- He needs to be more responsible with his finances.
- We are looking for a responsible person to house-sit.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to specific tasks and accountabilities listed in a job description or assigned to a department.
Academic
Used in ethics, law, and social sciences to discuss moral, legal, or professional duties.
Everyday
Commonly used to discuss household chores, parenting duties, or general tasks one must do.
Technical
In project management and law, denotes precise, often legally-binding duties and accountabilities.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “responsibilities”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “responsibilities”
- Using 'responsibility' as a plural noun (e.g., 'I have many responsibility').
- Confusing 'responsible to' (reporting hierarchy) with 'responsible for' (duty/content).
- Overusing the definite article (e.g., 'the my responsibilities' instead of 'my responsibilities').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is the plural countable form of the noun 'responsibility'. You can have one responsibility or many responsibilities.
A 'duty' often implies a moral or legal compulsion, something you must do. A 'responsibility' is something you are accountable for, which may involve multiple tasks and the authority to manage them. They are often used interchangeably, but 'duty' can sound more obligatory.
Not exactly. The singular 'responsibility' often refers to the abstract state of being accountable (e.g., 'He accepts full responsibility for the error'). The plural 'responsibilities' refers to the specific tasks or areas one is accountable for (e.g., 'His responsibilities include writing reports and attending meetings').
The most common preposition is 'for': 'responsibilities for training new staff'. You also use 'of' in structures like 'the responsibilities of a manager'. The preposition 'to' is used with the adjective form: 'responsible to the board'.
Duties, tasks, or obligations that one is required to undertake, often arising from a specific role, job, or moral position.
Responsibilities is usually formal to neutral in register.
Responsibilities: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlətiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlətiːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The buck stops here (implies ultimate responsibility)”
- “Wear many hats (to have many responsibilities)”
- “The ball is in your court (it's your responsibility to act now)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RESPONSIBLE person holding many BILLS (sounds like 'bilities') they have to pay – these are their duties and obligations.
Conceptual Metaphor
Responsibility is a BURDEN / WEIGHT (e.g., 'shoulder responsibilities', 'heavy responsibilities'). Responsibility is an OBJECT that can be GIVEN, TAKEN, or SHARED (e.g., 'delegate responsibilities', 'take on responsibilities').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST accurate synonym for 'responsibilities' in a formal job context?