Word
irresponsible
Phoneticsir·re·spon·si·ble, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪɹəˈspɑnsəbəɫ/
UK/ɪɹɪspˈɒnsəbəl/
Definitions
01careless or negligent
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. behaving in a way that shows you do not care about the consequences of your actions.
adj. displaying a lack of accountability or due care; acting without regard for the potential negative outcomes of one's conduct.
“It was irresponsible of him to leave the front door unlocked all night.”
“The board of directors was criticised for their irresponsible handling of the company's pension fund during the merger.”
Antonyms
02not legally accountable
C1 · Advanced Law Archaic · Formal
adj. not legally responsible for what you do.
adj. exempt from legal responsibility or not subject to being held accountable by a higher authority.
“In the past, certain rulers were considered irresponsible to any human law.”
“The treaty established that the monarch remained irresponsible to the local courts, a clause that caused significant diplomatic friction.”
Antonyms
03a careless person
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal
n. a person who does not act in a responsible way.
n. an individual who lacks a sense of duty or fails to meet their obligations.
“The social worker worried that the young man was becoming one of the town's irresponsibles.”
“The editorial dismissed the protesters as a group of young irresponsibles with no clear political agenda.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“He said it was an "irresponsible and dangerous act, and it is shocking that in some cases it is being done for likes on social media".” “Sybylla is one of too many children for her hardworking mother and debt-ridden, irresponsible father to support.” Etymology
From ir- + responsible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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