English Reference
adjective · noun

irresponsible

adj. · n.
US /ˌɪɹəˈspɑnsəbəɫ/ UK /ɪɹɪspˈɒnsəbəl/ ir·re·spon·si·ble

  1. 01 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.

    Simple

    It was irresponsible of him to leave the front door unlocked all night.

    In context

    The board of directors was criticised for their irresponsible handling of the company's pension fund during the merger.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced ArchaicFormal Law

    adj.not legally responsible for what you do.

    adj.exempt from legal responsibility or not subject to being held accountable by a higher authority.

    Simple

    In the past, certain rulers were considered irresponsible to any human law.

    In context

    The treaty established that the monarch remained irresponsible to the local courts, a clause that caused significant diplomatic friction.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency 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.

    Simple

    The social worker worried that the young man was becoming one of the town's irresponsibles.

    In context

    The editorial dismissed the protesters as a group of young irresponsibles with no clear political agenda.

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".

BBC News· 17 Aug 2026

Sybylla is one of too many children for her hardworking mother and debt-ridden, irresponsible father to support.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

From ir- + responsible.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated