liability
/,laiə'biliti/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A state of being legally responsible for something, or a legal obligation: This is the primary legal and financial meaning. It refers to a duty or debt that one is bound by law to perform or pay.
- Something that is a disadvantage or puts someone or something at a disadvantage: This meaning refers to a person or thing that is likely to cause problems or hold someone back.
- The state of being likely to be affected by something, especially something undesirable: This describes susceptibility or a tendency toward a negative condition.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Legal/Financial Obligation):
- The company accepted full liability for the accident.
- He has significant tax liabilities this year.
- Noun (Disadvantage):
- His lack of experience is a major liability in this job.
- The old software became a liability to the team's productivity.
- Noun (Susceptibility):
- The design has a liability to overheat under heavy load.
- She has a liability to headaches when stressed.
Advanced Usage
- "Limited liability": A legal structure (like an LLC or Ltd. company) where an owner's financial risk is limited to their investment in the business.
- They formed a limited liability company to protect their personal assets.
- "Admit liability": To formally accept legal responsibility for something.
- The driver's insurance company admitted liability for the damages.
Variants and Related Words
- Liable (Adjective): Legally responsible; likely to do or be affected by something.
- The manufacturer is liable for any defects.
- He is liable to forget appointments.
- Assets and liabilities (Phrase): A common accounting and business phrase referring to things owned (assets) and things owed (liabilities) to determine net worth.
- The balance sheet lists all the firm's assets and liabilities.
Synonyms
- Responsibility: The state of being accountable for something.
- Obligation: A duty or commitment.
- Debt: Something, typically money, that is owed.
- Disadvantage: An unfavorable circumstance.
- Handicap: A circumstance that makes progress or success difficult.
Related Phrases
- Current liability: A debt or obligation that must be paid within one year.
- Accounts payable are considered a current liability.
- Liability insurance: Insurance that provides protection against claims resulting from injuries or damage to other people or property.
- All drivers are required to have liability insurance.
Related Idioms
- To be more of a liability than an asset: To be more harmful or problematic than helpful.
- His constant negativity made him more of a liability than an asset to the project team.
Noun
- the quality of being something that holds you back
- an obligation to pay money to another party
- the state of being legally obliged and responsible