# liability

/ˌɫaɪəˈbɪɫɪti/ (US) · /lˌaɪəbˈɪlɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/liability
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. legal responsibility

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the state of being legally responsible for something, such as a debt or an accident.

For teachers: the state of being legally responsible for something; the condition of being bound by law or equity to make good a loss.

- The company admitted liability for the accident and paid for the repairs.
- The contract includes a clause that limits the manufacturer's liability in the event of a mechanical failure caused by improper maintenance.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'admit', 'accept', or 'limit'.

### 2. financial debt

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

an amount of money that a person or company owes.

For teachers: a financial obligation or debt recorded on a balance sheet.

- The business has more liabilities than assets, which is a bad sign for investors.
- The auditor noted that the firm's long-term liabilities had increased significantly due to the recent acquisition of its competitor.

Usage: Usually plural in a business context.

### 3. a burden or risk

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person or thing that causes problems or puts you at a disadvantage.

For teachers: a person or thing whose presence or behaviour is likely to cause embarrassment or misfortune.

- His constant lateness made him a liability to the rest of the team.
- The candidate's history of controversial public statements became a major liability during the final weeks of the election campaign.

Teaching tip: In British English, this is frequently used to describe a person who is out of control or likely to cause trouble, especially when drinking.

### 4. susceptibility

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

the state of being likely to experience or be affected by something.

For teachers: the quality or state of being susceptible to something, often something negative.

- Some people have a genetic liability to certain types of diseases.
- The study explored the environmental factors that increase a child's liability to developing respiratory issues later in life.

## Examples

- The company has a large financial liability this year.
- After the accident, the court had to determine which driver held the legal liability for the damages.
- While his technical skills were impressive, his tendency to lose his temper in front of clients made him a liability to the firm's reputation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.