responsibility
High frequency (C1-Band)Formal, Semi-formal, Neutral. Predominantly used in formal or professional contexts, but common in general speech.
Definition
Meaning
The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or having control over someone; the state of being accountable or to blame for something.
The social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force; a moral or legal obligation; the ability to act independently and make decisions; a particular burden of obligation upon someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries inherent moral, social, or professional weight. It often implies a duty owed to others or to a system, differentiating it from simple 'obligation' which can be purely contractual. It has a cluster of related senses: duty (what you must do), accountability (answering for outcomes), and authority (power to make decisions).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical or semantic difference. Minor orthographic preference in compounds (e.g., 'job responsibility' slightly more common in US, 'responsibility of the job' in UK).
Connotations
Both varieties carry identical core connotations of duty, obligation, and accountability.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American business and legal English corpora, but the word is fundamental and ubiquitous in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
responsibility for (something/doing something)responsibility to (someone)responsibility of (someone)responsibility as (a role)have/take/bear/accept responsibilityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the buck stops here (with someone)”
- “pass the buck (avoid responsibility)”
- “on your own head be it”
- “carry the can (for something)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to job roles, project ownership, and liability. e.g., 'Her responsibilities include budget oversight and team management.'
Academic
Used in ethics, sociology, and law to discuss moral, social, or legal duties. e.g., 'The study explores corporate social responsibility.'
Everyday
Discusses chores, parenting, or personal actions. e.g., 'It's your responsibility to take out the bins.'
Technical
In engineering/project management, defines specific tasks within a system. e.g., 'The module's responsibility is data validation.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new manager will responsibility the budget oversight.
- We need to responsibility these tasks clearly.
American English
- The new manager will responsibility the budget oversight.
- We need to responsibility these tasks clearly.
adverb
British English
- He acted responsibility throughout the crisis.
- You must spend your money responsibility.
American English
- He acted responsibly throughout the crisis.
- You must spend your money responsibly.
adjective
British English
- He is a very responsibility person.
- It was a responsibility decision.
American English
- He is a very responsibility person.
- It was a responsibility decision.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Children have a responsibility to tidy their rooms.
- It is my responsibility to feed the cat.
- As team leader, she has the responsibility for organising meetings.
- Drivers have a responsibility to obey traffic laws.
- The minister accepted full responsibility for the policy's failure.
- With great power comes great responsibility.
- The board is now investigating where the ultimate responsibility for the data breach lies.
- The ethical framework apportions responsibility based on both action and foresight.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RESPONSE + ABILITY. It is the ABILITY to give a proper RESPONSE or account for your actions.
Conceptual Metaphor
Responsibility is a BURDEN (carry a heavy responsibility). Responsibility is OWNERSHIP (take responsibility). Responsibility is a POSITION (a position of responsibility).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'ответственность' for minor tasks; in English, 'task' or 'job' is often better. 'Responsibility' implies a higher degree of accountability.
- Do not confuse 'on responsibility' – the correct preposition is usually 'responsibility FOR' something.
- The phrase 'it is my responsibility' can sound more formal and weighty than the Russian equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'responsibility of cleaning' (better: 'responsibility for cleaning' or 'the responsibility of cleaning is mine').
- Using 'a responsibility' for an undifferentiated mass noun: 'He has many responsibility' (correct: 'He has many responsibilities' or 'He has a lot of responsibility').
- Confusing 'responsible to' (a person/authority you report to) and 'responsible for' (the thing you control).
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'a position of responsibility', what is the closest meaning of 'responsibility'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As an uncountable noun, it refers to the general concept (e.g., 'a sense of responsibility'). As a countable noun, it refers to specific duties (e.g., 'my responsibilities include writing reports').
'Duty' often implies a moral or legal compulsion from an external code (e.g., a soldier's duty). 'Responsibility' often implies a role-based obligation for which one is held accountable, and can include the authority to act.
The most common preposition is 'for' (responsibility for a task). You can also use 'to' (responsibility to a person or group) and 'of' (the responsibility of the manager).
Stress falls on the fourth syllable: 'bil'. British: /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/. American: /rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/. Practice the 'spon' and 'si' syllables quickly.
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