responsibility

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responsibility [noun] (DUTY)

[C or U]  something that it is your job or duty to deal with

US /rɪˌspɑːn.səˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/ 
UK /rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ə.ti/ 

مسئوليت‌، وظيفه‌

Example: 

He does not accept any responsibility.

او هيچگونه‌ مسئوليتى‌ را قبول‌ نمى‌كند.‏

Oxford Essential Dictionary

responsibility

 noun
a duty to deal with or take care of somebody or something, so that it is your fault if something goes wrong:
Who has responsibility for the new students?
The dog is my brother's responsibility.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

responsibility

responsibility S2 W1 /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti, rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti $ rɪˌspɑːn-/ BrE AmE noun (plural responsibilities)
[Word Family: noun: ↑responsibility ≠ ↑irresponsibility; adverb: ↑responsibly ≠ ↑irresponsibly; adjective: ↑responsible ≠ ↑irresponsible]
1. [uncountable] a duty to be in charge of someone or something, so that you make decisions and can be blamed if something bad happens:
Kelly’s promotion means more money and more responsibility.
+for
The Minister has responsibility for the National Health Service.
with responsibility for something
a manager with responsibility for over 100 staff
it is sb’s responsibility to do something
It’s your responsibility to inform us of any changes.
2. [uncountable] blame for something bad that has happened:
The firm is denying all responsibility.
responsibility for
No one wants to take responsibility for the problem.
The surgeon accepted full responsibility for the error that led to her death..
So far no one has claimed responsibility (=said that they are responsible) for the bombings.
3. [countable] something that you must do as part of your job or duty:
My responsibilities include answering the phone and dealing with customer enquiries.
family/professional/parental etc responsibilities
a single parent struggling to balance work and family responsibilities
4. [countable] something that you ought to do because it is morally or socially right SYN duty
a responsibility to do something
We all have a responsibility to protect the environment.
Parents need to encourage a sense of responsibility in their children (=the ability to behave sensibly in a way that will not harm themselves or other people).
moral/social/legal etc responsibility
The company saw it as part of its social responsibility to provide education for its workers.
5. responsibility to somebody a duty to help someone because of your work or position in society:
A doctor’s first responsibility is to her patients.
6. do something on your own responsibility formal to do something without being told to do it or officially allowed to do it
⇨ ↑diminished responsibility
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
have responsibility for (doing) something The Council has responsibility for maintaining the streetlights.
take responsibility for (doing) something Who do you trust to take responsibility for our country's defence?
take on responsibility (also assume responsibility formal) (=start to have responsibility for something) These days men tend to take on more responsibility at home. | The government must assume greater responsibility for the care of the elderly.
shoulder responsibility (=agree to start having a difficult or unpleasant duty) The city, she said, would shoulder responsibility for caring for the children.
shirk responsibility (=not accept a duty you should accept) He doesn't shirk responsibility.
exercise responsibility formal (=take action because you have responsibility for something) The citizens of ancient Athens met here to exercise their responsibility to govern themselves.
abdicate responsibility formal (=refuse to have responsibility for something you used to have responsibility for) The state should not allow parents to abdicate responsibility for their children.
the responsibility lies with somebody (=they are responsible for it) Ultimate responsibility for admissions lies with the Course Co-ordinator.
■ adjectives
personal responsibility So far, no one had taken personal responsibility for the project.
overall responsibility The Department of Education has overall responsibility for schools and universities.
direct responsibility (=when no other person is involved) He has direct responsibility for all the programmes on Radio 1.
sole responsibility (=not shared with others) The financial director has sole responsibility for financial matters.
collective responsibility (=shared equally by a group of people) Head teachers should encourage a sense of collective responsibility among teachers.
primary responsibility (=most important responsibility) I have primary responsibility for the children.
ultimate responsibility (=responsibility for making a final decision) The National Assembly will have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that health targets are met.
■ phrases
a burden of responsibility (=a lot of responsibility, that worries you) Being the only wage earner put a great burden of responsibility on my father.
a position of responsibility (=a job in which people depend on you to tell them what they should do) Before the age of 21 he had attained a position of responsibility in the factory.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
accept/take responsibility for something To his credit, he took responsibility for his actions.
claim responsibility (for something) (=say that you are responsible for something bad) No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings.
deny responsibility for something The company denied responsibility for the oil spillage.
bear responsibility for something (=be responsible for something bad) Developed countries must bear much of the responsibility for environmental problems.
■ adjectives
full responsibility The airline accepted full responsibility for the crash.
personal responsibility I take personal responsibility for what went wrong.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

responsibility

 

 

re·spon·si·bil·ity [responsibility responsibilities]   [rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti]    [rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti]  noun (pl. re·spon·si·bil·ities)
1. uncountable, countable a duty to deal with or take care of sb/sth, so that you may be blamed if sth goes wrong
~ (for sth) We are recruiting a sales manager with responsibility for the European market.
~ (for doing sth) They have responsibility for ensuring that the rules are enforced.
The responsibility for doing this rests with the department managers.
~ (to do sth) It is their responsibility to ensure that the rules are enforced.
parental rights and responsibilities
to take/assume overall responsibility for personnel
I don't feel ready to take on new responsibilities.
to be in a position of responsibility

• I did it on my own responsibility (= without being told to and being willing to take the blame if it had gone wrong).

2. uncountable ~ (for sth) blame for sth bad that has happened
The bank refuses to accept responsibility for the mistake.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
• We must all bear some responsibility for what happened.

see also  diminished responsibility

3. uncountable, countable a duty to help or take care of sb because of your job, position, etc
~ (to/towards sb) She feels a strong sense of responsibility towards her employees.
~ (to do sth) I think we have a moral responsibility to help these countries.  
Thesaurus:
responsibility noun
1. U, C
It is their responsibility to see that the rules are enforced.
dutychargeburdenobligationcommitment|informal job|formal accountability|especially business law liability
a responsibility/duty towards sb
responsibility/accountability/liability for sth
have a responsibility/a duty/charge/an obligation/a commitment/the job/liability
accept responsibility/a duty/the burden/an obligation/liability
2. U
The bank refuses to accept responsibility for the error.
faultblameguilt
the responsibility/blame/guilt for sth
bear/accept/share/absolve sb from/shift the responsibility/blame/guilt
the responsibility/blame/fault lies/rests with sb
Responsibility or fault? People typically accept/share/admit/claim/deny responsibility for sth:  ¤ The bank refuses to accept fault for the error. Fault is usually used in the phrases my/your/his/her/our/their/sb's (own) fault or sb is at fault:
It was her fault that we were late.
 ¤ It was her responsibility that we were late.  
Example Bank:
Full responsibility for the fiasco lies with the PR department.
Governors carry a special burden of responsibility.
He attributed responsibility for the killing to the secret service.
He feels a responsibility to his community.
He feels a strong sense of responsibility towards his parents.
He seems unwilling to face up to his responsibilities as a father.
He was found not guilty of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
I don't feel ready to take on new responsibilities.
It is a great responsibility caring for other people's children.
No organization has yet claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.
Responsibility is devolved down to the people who are affected.
She has responsibility for public spending.
She juggled the competing responsibilities of family and work.
The assistants were handling their responsibilities in the only way they could.
The club has a responsibility to its members.
The government of the time placed responsibility for the poor on the Church.
The heads of school departments have particular responsibilities for the curriculum.
The sergeant assumed his command responsibilities.
They wanted to shift responsibility for the failure onto their employees.
Ultimate responsibility rests with the president.
We retain all responsibility for any shortcomings.
What are the main responsibilities in your job?
Will you take responsibility for arranging the food?
With great power comes great responsibility.
an obligation to meet family responsibilities
devolving responsibility downwards so decisions are taken nearer to the people they will affect
people on the verge of assuming adult responsibilities
• to shift legal responsibility for the correct labelling of goods onto the shopkeeper

• I'm not ready to be in a position of responsibility.

 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

responsibility / rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti /   / -ˌspɑːn.səˈbɪl.ə.t̬i / noun (DUTY)

B2 [ C or U ] something that it is your job or duty to deal with:

[ + to infinitive ] It's her responsibility to ensure the project finishes on time.

She takes her responsibilities as a nurse very seriously.

have responsibility to be in a position of authority over someone and to have a duty to make certain that particular things are done:

Who has responsibility here?

Jenny, you have responsibility for clear ing up the room after the class.

have a responsibility to sb to have a duty to work for or help someone who is in a position of authority over you:

The company says it cannot cut its prices any more because it has a responsibility to its shareholders.

Word partners for responsibility (DUTY)

have a responsibility • responsibility falls on sb • share responsibility • abdicate / avoid / shirk responsibility • a big / heavy / huge responsibility

Word partners for responsibility (BLAME)

accept / bear / shoulder / take responsibility • admit / claim responsibility • full / total responsibility • responsibility for sth

 

responsibility / rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti /   / -ˌspɑːn.səˈbɪl.ə.t̬i / noun [ U ] (BLAME)

B2 blame for something that has happened:

Terrorists have claimed responsibility for (= stated that they caused) yesterday's bomb attack.

The minister took/accepted full responsibility for (= admitted that he was to blame for) the disaster and resigned.

Word partners for responsibility (DUTY)

have a responsibility • responsibility falls on sb • share responsibility • abdicate / avoid / shirk responsibility • a big / heavy / huge responsibility

Word partners for responsibility (BLAME)

accept / bear / shoulder / take responsibility • admit / claim responsibility • full / total responsibility • responsibility for sth

 

responsibility / rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti /   / -ˌspɑːn.səˈbɪl.ə.t̬i / noun [ U ] (GOOD JUDGMENT)

good judgment and the ability to act correctly and make decisions on your own:

He has no sense of responsibility.

The job carries a lot of responsibility (= it involves making important decisions) .

Word partners for responsibility (DUTY)

have a responsibility • responsibility falls on sb • share responsibility • abdicate / avoid / shirk responsibility • a big / heavy / huge responsibility

Word partners for responsibility (BLAME)

accept / bear / shoulder / take responsibility • admit / claim responsibility • full / total responsibility • responsibility for sth

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

responsibility

[rɪspɒ̱nsɪbɪ̱lɪti]
 ♦♦
 responsibilities

 1) N-UNCOUNT: oft N for n/-ing If you have responsibility for something or someone, or if they are your responsibility, it is your job or duty to deal with them and to take decisions relating to them.
  Each manager had responsibility for just under 600 properties...
  We need to take responsibility for looking after our own health...
  `She's not your responsibility,' he said gently.
 2) N-UNCOUNT: oft N for n If you accept responsibility for something that has happened, you agree that you were to blame for it or you caused it.
  British Rail has admitted responsibility for the accident...
  Someone had to give orders and take responsibility for mistakes.
 3) N-PLURAL: usu with supp Your responsibilities are the duties that you have because of your job or position.
  I am told that he handled his responsibilities as a counselor in a highly intelligent and caring fashion.
  ...programmes to help employees balance work and family responsibilities.
 4) N-UNCOUNT If someone is given responsibility, they are given the right or opportunity to make important decisions or to take action without having to get permission from anyone else.
  She would have loved to have a better-paying job with more responsibility...
  Carrington held a position of responsibility within the government.
 5) N-SING: usu N to-inf If you think that you have a responsibility to do something, you feel that you ought to do it because it is morally right to do it.
  The court feels it has a responsibility to ensure that customers are not misled...
  As parents we have a responsibility to give our children a sense of belonging.
  Syn:
  duty
 6) N-SING: N to/towards n If you think that you have a responsibility to someone, you feel that it is your duty to take action that will protect their interests.
  She had decided that as a doctor she had a responsibility to her fellow creatures.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

responsibility

re·spon·si·bil·i·ty /rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/ noun, pl -ties
1 [noncount] : the state of being the person who caused something to happen
• He accepted full responsibility for the accident. [=he admitted that the accident was his fault]
• The boys denied any responsibility for the damage to the fence.
• A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
2 a : a duty or task that you are required or expected to do

[count]

• The janitor has many responsibilities.
• Mowing the lawn is your responsibility.
• She has to deal with a lot of family and work responsibilities.
• It is your responsibility to give the company two weeks notice if you decide to leave.
• A teacher's most important responsibility is to help her students. = A teacher's first responsibility is to/toward her students.

[noncount]

• In her new position, she will have much more responsibility.
b [count] : something that you should do because it is morally right, legally required, etc.
• We have a responsibility to protect the environment.
• The government's responsibility is to serve the public.
3 [noncount] : the state of having the job or duty of dealing with and taking care of something or someone
• The principal has responsibility for 450 students and a staff of 35.
4 [noncount] : the quality of a person who can be trusted to do what is expected, required, etc.
• She is completely lacking in responsibility.
• The boy developed a sense of responsibility with his first job.
on your own responsibility
✦To do something on your own responsibility is to do it without being told to and to accept the blame if it has a bad result.
• He changed the schedule on his own responsibility.