responsibility

responsibility — noun

1. something that you are expected to take care of as part of your job, role in lif

1.nounB1
Definition

something that you are expected to take care of as part of your job, role in life, or particular situation

Example

Théo's main responsibility at the cafe is to open the shop every morning at six.

main responsibility + infinitive for core duty

Looking after her younger brother became Lara's responsibility after their mother started working night shifts.

Common collocations
  • main responsibility
  • key responsibility
  • primary responsibility
  • take on responsibility
  • have a responsibility to
  • responsibility for
Synonyms
  • duty

    more about moral or legal obligation; 'responsibility' often implies personal ownership of a task

  • obligation

    stronger emphasis on being bound by a rule or promise; slightly more formal

  • task

    narrower — just a piece of work, without the sense of accountability

Usage Note

Often countable in this sense: 'She has two main responsibilities.' Uncountable when speaking in general: 'Responsibility for care of the elderly falls on the state.'

Common Mistakes

I have a responsibility cleaning the kitchen every evening.
I have a responsibility to clean the kitchen every evening.
The structure 'responsibility + to-infinitive' is used, not 'responsibility + gerund'.
This is my responsibly.
This is my responsibility.
'Responsibility' is the noun; 'responsibly' is an adverb meaning 'in a responsible way'.

2. the position of being in charge of a particular group, area, or activity, with a

2.nounB2
Definition

the position of being in charge of a particular group, area, or activity, with a duty to ensure things are done properly

Example

Diya was given responsibility for a team of twelve engineers at the new research centre.

given responsibility for + group

As senior ward nurse, Tamar holds full responsibility for the children's ward during the night shift.

Common collocations
  • position of responsibility
  • hold responsibility for
  • given responsibility for
  • full responsibility
  • take on the responsibility of
Synonyms
  • authority

    focuses on the power to make decisions, not the duty itself

  • control

    implies direct command; stronger and less formal than 'responsibility' in this sense

  • charge

    used in fixed phrases like 'in charge of'; more informal, less about formal position

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — you do not say 'responsibilities' when referring to the authority role itself. 'A position of responsibility' is a fixed expression.

Common Mistakes

She was given many responsibilities over the sales team.
She was given responsibility over the sales team.
In the authority sense, 'responsibility' is uncountable; 'responsibilities' in the plural would mean separate duties (sense 1).

3. a duty to help, serve, or be loyal to someone in a higher position or to an orga

3.nounB2
Definition

a duty to help, serve, or be loyal to someone in a higher position or to an organisation that you belong to

Example

As a social worker, Xiu has a clear responsibility to report any signs of danger to her supervisor.

have a responsibility to + infinitive

The Suntech chemical plant has a legal responsibility to ensure workers wear protective gloves and goggles.

Common collocations
  • have a responsibility to
  • sense of responsibility towards
  • legal responsibility
  • moral responsibility
  • professional responsibility
  • fundamental responsibility
Synonyms
  • obligation

    slightly colder and more formal; often used in legal contexts

  • accountability

    stronger focus on having to explain your actions to someone

  • allegiance

    loyalty-based; more emotional than practical duty

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 emphasises duty TO a person or institution (upward or outward), whereas sense 1 emphasises a task you personally own (not necessarily tied to a superior).

4. blame or accountability for a mistake, accident, or problem that has already hap

4.nounB2
Definition

blame or accountability for a mistake, accident, or problem that has already happened

Example

The bus driver accepted full responsibility for the accident on the wet motorway.

accept responsibility for [negative event]

No one on the Gamma construction team would take responsibility for the error in the bridge budget report.

Common collocations
  • accept responsibility
  • take responsibility
  • admit responsibility
  • deny responsibility
  • avoid responsibility
  • claim responsibility
  • share responsibility
  • full responsibility
Synonyms
  • blame

    simpler and more direct; 'blame' is about who caused it, while 'responsibility' here sounds more formal and accepting

  • fault

    used in phrases like 'it was my fault'; less formal than 'responsibility'

Usage Note

Usually follows verbs of admitting or denying: 'accept', 'take', 'claim', 'deny', 'admit', 'avoid', 'share'. The focus is on who is to blame, not on the task itself.

Common Mistakes

The driver took responsibility for driving the bus.' (if no mistake happened)
Use sense 1 instead: 'The driver was given responsibility for driving the bus route.
'Take responsibility for' in this sense only applies to something negative that already happened.

5. the ability to make sensible, mature decisions and to act correctly without need

5.nounC1
Definition

the ability to make sensible, mature decisions and to act correctly without needing to be supervised or reminded

Example

The teenager showed real responsibility by waking up early to study without anyone reminding her.

show responsibility by + gerund

Taipei high school student Stephanie saved part of her supermarket paycheck each month without reminders.

Common collocations
  • show responsibility
  • demonstrate responsibility
  • learn responsibility
  • financial responsibility
  • personal responsibility
  • handle responsibility
Synonyms
  • maturity

    broader — includes emotional growth; responsibility in this sense is the behaviour that shows maturity

  • good sense

    informal; slightly narrower, focusing on practical wisdom rather than mature conduct

Antonyms

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 6: sense 5 is about MATURE BEHAVIOUR (making good choices), while sense 6 is about TRUSTWORTHINESS (being someone others can rely on). Sense 5 often appears with verbs like 'show', 'demonstrate', 'learn'.

6. the quality of being reliable and honest, so that others can trust you

6.nounC1
Definition

the quality of being reliable and honest, so that others can trust you

Example

Diya is known for her quiet responsibility — she always finishes every job she promises to do.

known for + possessive + responsibility

The school chose Mira for the scholarship because of her reputation for honesty and responsibility.

reputation for honesty and responsibility

Common collocations
  • personal responsibility
  • sense of responsibility
  • reputation for responsibility
  • known for responsibility
Synonyms
  • reliability

    very close; 'reliability' emphasises consistency, while 'responsibility' emphasises moral dependability

  • trustworthiness

    direct synonym; slightly more about honesty than about getting tasks done

  • integrity

    broader — includes honesty and strong moral principles in all areas of life

Antonyms

Usage Note

This sense overlaps with 'reliability' and 'integrity'. Unlike sense 1, it is always uncountable and describes a general character trait rather than a specific task.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to something you are expected to do, but 'responsibility' carries a stronger sense of personal ownership and accountability. 'Duty' is more about moral or legal necessity — a soldier's duty is to follow orders, whether they agree or not. 'Obligation' comes from an external promise or rule, like a contract or a social agreement; it feels colder and more binding than 'responsibility.' 'Task' is simply a specific piece of work without any sense of blame or ownership ('my task was to wash the dishes'). 'Burden' adds emotional weight — it is a responsibility that feels heavy or hard to carry. For everyday use, 'responsibility' is the broadest and most neutral choice: you can take responsibility for a child, a job, or a mistake. Use 'duty' when you want to emphasise moral force ('it is my duty to report this crime'), and 'obligation' when the pressure comes from a rule or a promise ('I have a legal obligation to pay tax').

duty ↗obligation ↗task ↗burden ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sense of
  • position of
  • burden of
  • weight of
  • degree of
  • level of
  • area of
  • lack of

Adverbs

Phrases

  • take responsibility
  • accept responsibility
  • assume responsibility
  • share responsibility
  • claim responsibility
  • deny responsibility
  • a sense of responsibility
  • a position of responsibility

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Responsibility comes from Latin 'respondēre' (to respond or answer), combined with '-ibilis' (able to) and '-itas' (state of). The original idea was 'being answerable' — able to give a response or account for one's actions. It entered English through French 'responsibilité' in the late 1700s, during a period when legal and political thinkers were developing modern ideas about individual duty and accountability.