obligation

noun
UK: /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən/
US: /ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃən/

  1. A moral or legal duty to do something.

    1. I have an obligation to help.
    2. The company has a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for its employees.

  2. A requirement to fulfill a particular action, especially because of a promise, contract, or law.

    1. Voting is a civic obligation.
    2. The contract placed an obligation on the company to deliver the goods on time.

  3. The state of being bound to do something.

    1. He felt a strong obligation to his family.
    2. The university has an obligation to ensure that all students have access to resources.

Synonyms

responsibility requirement commitment burden duty

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "obligation" in English means: A moral or legal duty to do something., A requirement to fulfill a particular action, especially because of a promise, contract, or law., The state of being bound to do something..

The phonetic transcription of "obligation" is /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən/ in British English and /ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "obligation": responsibility, requirement, commitment, burden, duty.

Example usage of "obligation": "I have an obligation to help.". More examples on the page.