obligation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
something you must do because it is your duty or because of a law.
a social, legal, or moral requirement that compels an individual to follow a particular course of action.
Simple“The company has a legal obligation to ensure the safety of its workers.”
In context“Citizens have a moral obligation to assist those in need, even when no specific law mandates such intervention.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'meet', 'fulfill', or 'honour'.
PitfallI have the obligation of help him. I have an obligation to help him.The noun 'obligation' is followed by the infinitive 'to help', not 'of helping'.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a formal agreement or a debt that you are required to pay.
a formal agreement stipulating a specified action or payment; often refers to the document or the financial debt itself.
Simple“The bank reviewed the borrower's financial obligations before approving the new loan.”
In context“The defendant failed to meet his contractual obligations, leading to a significant lawsuit regarding the unpaid debts.”
UsageIn financial contexts, it frequently refers to bonds or fixed-income securities.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a feeling that you should do something for someone because they helped you.
a state of being indebted to someone for a favour or service rendered.
Simple“He felt a sense of obligation toward the mentor who helped him start his career.”
In context“Having received such generous support during her illness, she felt a profound sense of obligation to give back to the community clinic.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often expressed through the phrase 'under an obligation' or 'sense of obligation'.
Synonyms
“Another official familiar with the matter told Al Jazeera that Hamas and Kushner met in the town of Alamein “with the objective of translating the roadmap’s obligations into concrete, verifiable steps”.”
“Under the new arrangement, Egerton was under no obligation to spend more than the minimum on production.”
From Middle English obligacioun, from Old French obligacion, from Latin obligatio, obligationem, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- (“to”) + ligare (“to bind”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.