responsible

adjective

re·​spon·​si·​ble ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce responsible (audio)
1
a
: liable to be called on to answer
b(1)
: liable to be called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent
a committee responsible for the job
(2)
: being the cause or explanation
mechanical defects were responsible for the accident
c
: liable to legal review or in case of fault to penalties
2
a
: able to answer for one's conduct and obligations : trustworthy
b
: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3
: marked by or involving responsibility or accountability
responsible financial policies
4
: politically answerable
especially : required to submit to the electorate if defeated by the legislature
used especially of the British cabinet
responsibleness noun
responsibly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for responsible

responsible, answerable, accountable, amenable, liable mean subject to being held to account.

responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.

an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.

elected officials are accountable to the voters

amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.

laws are amenable to judicial review
not liable for the debts of the former spouse

Examples of responsible in a Sentence

"If you all die of typhoid I won't be responsible!" he snapped. "If you die of dullness, neither will I," Helen echoed in her heart. Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915
I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race. No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government. Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery, 1900, 1901
He resumed our walk with me, passing his hand into my arm. "Then when AM I going back?" I wore, in turning it over, my most responsible air. Henry James, The Turn of the Screw, 1898
She is a very responsible worker. Is he responsible enough to have a car?
Recent Examples on the Web The energy and industrial sectors are responsible for two-thirds of total emissions, followed by the transport, building and agriculture sectors. Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024 Players are responsible for managing human needs from hunger, comfort, hygiene, bladder and social battery. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Morris knew from her training that such distortions could be triggered by a specific area of the brain called the fusiform gyrus, which is responsible for face perception, object recognition and reading. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 There was initial speculation that the mob was responsible for the murders, according to Fox 11, but the brothers admitted to the killings at trial. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Future, of course, is also responsible for Metro Boomin’s most memorable producer tag. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024 Owners are responsible for their own travel and lodging costs. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Mar. 2024 Bereaved and borderline insane, Brady may be a killer, or whoever murdered one of the village’s priests in Dublin may be responsible. Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Finally, a full-time, permanent staff member is responsible for spot-checking ballots in every ward of the initial batch to ensure everything within the absentee packet is complete and accurate, Woodall said. Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'responsible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French responsable, from respuns — see response

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of responsible was in 1643

Dictionary Entries Near responsible

Cite this Entry

“Responsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsible. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

responsible

adjective
re·​spon·​si·​ble ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce responsible (audio)
1
a
: being the one who must answer or account for something
the committee responsible for the job
b
: being the cause or explanation
the germ responsible for the disease
2
a
: able to meet one's obligations : reliable
a responsible citizen
b
: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3
: requiring a person to take charge of or be trusted with important matters
a responsible job
responsibleness noun
responsibly adverb

Legal Definition

responsible

adjective
re·​spon·​si·​ble
1
a
: liable to be called on to answer
b
: liable to be called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent
c
: liable to legal review or in case of fault to penalties
2
: characterized by trustworthiness, integrity, and requisite abilities and resources
awarded the contract to the lowest responsible bidder
3
: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
4
: marked by or involving accountability
a responsible office
responsibility noun
responsibleness noun
responsibly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on responsible

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