# responsibility

/ɹiˌspɑnsəˈbɪɫəti/ (US) · /ɹɪspˌɒnsəbˈɪlɪti/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a duty or task

noun · CEFR B1

a specific task or duty that you are expected to do as part of your job or life.

For teachers: a specific duty, obligation, or task for which an individual is held accountable. Often used in the plural to describe job requirements.

- One of my main responsibilities at work is answering the phones.
- The manager delegated several key responsibilities to her assistant to ensure the project remained on schedule during her absence.

### 2. being in charge

noun · CEFR B1

the state of being the person who must make sure something is done correctly.

For teachers: the abstract state or quality of being accountable or having authority over something.

- With the new promotion comes a lot more responsibility and longer hours.
- The captain accepted full responsibility for the safety of the passengers, refusing to leave the vessel until everyone had been evacuated.

### 3. blame or fault

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the state of being the person who caused something to happen, especially something bad.

For teachers: legal or moral liability for an act or its consequences; the state of being culpable.

- The company accepted responsibility for the accident and paid for the repairs.
- The court must determine whether the defendant bears criminal responsibility for the damages caused by the fire.

## Examples

- It is your responsibility to lock the door when you leave.
- The manager took full responsibility for the shipping delay and offered the customer a complete refund.
- As the company expanded into international markets, the board realised that corporate social responsibility required more than just compliance with local environmental regulations.

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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.