Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a duty to deal with something or having control over someone: Being the person who must ensure that a particular task or duty is performed correctly or who is in charge of someone or something.
   • Being the primary cause of an event or situation: Being the agent or source that makes something happen.
   • Capable of being trusted to behave well, make good judgments, or be held accountable: Having the maturity, reliability, or moral soundness to be given duties or trust.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • Parents are responsible for their children's safety. (Parents have the duty to ensure their children are safe.)
  • The investigation found the faulty wiring was responsible for the fire. (The faulty wiring was the cause of the fire.)
  • She is a very responsible employee who always meets her deadlines. (She is a trustworthy and reliable employee.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be responsible to someone/something": To have a duty to report to or be controlled by a higher authority.
  • The committee is responsible to the board of directors. (The committee must answer to the board of directors.)
• Financially responsible: Having an acceptable credit rating or being trustworthy in financial matters.
  • Only responsible borrowers with good credit history qualify for the loan.

Variants and Related Words

• Responsibility (n): The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of being accountable.
  • With great power comes great responsibility.
• Responsibly (adv): In a sensible or trustworthy manner.
  • He promised to act responsibly with the information.

Synonyms

• Accountable: Required or expected to justify actions or decisions.
• Liable: Legally responsible for something.
• Trustworthy: Able to be relied on as honest or truthful.
• Dependable: Trustworthy and reliable.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Hold responsible: To consider someone accountable for something.
  • The company will be held responsible for the environmental damage.
• Make responsible for: To give someone the duty or control over something.
  • They made her responsible for organizing the event.

Related Idioms

• The buck stops here: A phrase indicating that the speaker accepts ultimate responsibility and will not pass it on to someone else.
  • As the manager, I say the buck stops here for this decision.
• Carry the can (for something): To accept the blame or responsibility for something, especially when it is not your fault.
  • He had to carry the can for his team's failure.

Adjective

1. having an acceptable credit rating
   • a responsible borrower
2. being the agent or cause
   • determined who was the responsible party
   • termites were responsible for the damage
3. worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
   • a responsible adult
   • responsible journalism
   • a responsible position
   • the captain is responsible for the ship's safety
   • the cabinet is responsible to the parliament