responsibility: meaning, pronunciation and examples

/rɪˌspɑnsəˈbɪləti/·rih-spahn-suh-BIL-uh-tee

Responsibility (noun) means a duty to take care of someone or something as part of your job or role.

What does “responsibility” mean?

  1. 1

    nouna duty to take care of someone or something as part of your job or role

    It’s my responsibility to lock up the office.
  2. 2

    nounblame for something that has happened

    No one has taken responsibility for the mistake.

Responsibility at a glance

Part of speech
noun
CEFR level
B1 (intermediate)
Pronunciation
/rɪˌspɑnsəˈbɪləti/ · rih-spahn-suh-BIL-uh-tee
Forms
responsibilities

How to use “responsibility” correctly

Say “responsibility for” something (“responsibility for the budget”) and “responsibility to” do something.

Common phrases with “responsibility”

  • take responsibility for
  • have a responsibility to
  • sense of responsibility

Synonyms (similar meaning)

  • duty
  • obligation
  • blame

Word family

  • responsible
  • responsibly
  • irresponsible

“responsibility” is on these word lists

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