Dictionary

liable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈlaɪ̯əbəl/
• [ˈlaɪ̯əbɫ̩]
• (US) audio
• [ˈlaɪ̯əbəɫ]

Etymology

From Old French lier (“to bind”), from Latin ligō, ligāre (“to bind, to tie”). Compare typologically Russian обя́занный (objázannyj), обяза́тельный (objazátelʹnyj) (akin to вяза́ть (vjazátʹ)).

Meanings

1. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable.
   • The document states that despite its ongoing advancements, generative AI is liable to the United States’s current copyright principles, which take a strict stance on what material—human- or machine-made—qualifies for protection. 2025 January 30, Tessa Solomon, “AI Art Lacking ‘Human Expression’ Cannot Be Copyrighted, US Officials Say”, in ARTnews:
   • He inveighed against the folly of making oneself liable for the debts of others; vented many bitter execrations against the brother; and concluded with wishing something could be done for the unfortunate family. The passion for philosophy, like that for religion, seems liable to this inconvenience 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
   • The surety is liable for the debt of his principal.
2. Subject; susceptible; prone.
   • A man liable to heart disease.
   • This crime is liable to imprisonment for life.
   • ☞ This word [earth] is liable to a coarſe vulgar pronunciation, as if written Urth;[…] 1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 211:
3. Exposed to a certain contingency or causality, more or less probable.
   • Electronic devices are liable to malfunction when exposed to extreme heat.
4. (predicative, with to-infinitive) Likely.
   • Someone is liable to slip on your icy sidewalk.

Forms

Deriveds

liableness · nonliable · liably · unliable

Relateds

reliable · oblige · liability

Translations (50)

ro pasibil (exposed to a certain contingency) · it punibile (subject; susceptible) · bg отговорен (legally responsible) · uk відповід́альний (legally responsible) · nl aansprakelijk (legally responsible) · it passibile (subject; susceptible) · it verb conditional form (likely) · fr susceptible (subject; susceptible) · de haftbar (legally responsible) · it soggetto (subject; susceptible) · es tendente (subject; susceptible) · es tendiente (subject; susceptible) · ga freagrach (legally responsible) · pt passível (exposed to a certain contingency) · de haftend (legally responsible) · nl verantwoordelijk (legally responsible) · fr responsable (legally responsible) · uk зобов'я́заний (legally responsible) · es responsabilizable (legally responsible) · mi eke (legally responsible) · de unterworfen (exposed to a certain contingency) · ru отве́тственный (legally responsible) · la obnoxius (legally responsible) · mi eke (subject; susceptible) · ba яуаплы (legally responsible) · uk схи́льний (exposed to a certain contingency) · bg подлежащ (subject; susceptible) · is skaðabótaskyldur (legally responsible) · es proclive (subject; susceptible) · pt responsável (legally responsible) · ro răspunzător (legally responsible) · hu felelős (legally responsible) · ru подверженный (exposed to a certain contingency) · ru обя́занный (legally responsible) · ru уязвимый (exposed to a certain contingency) · ga faoi dhliteanas (legally responsible) · fr sujet (subject; susceptible) · es responsabilizado (legally responsible) · de fehlbar (legally responsible) · ca subjecte (exposed to a certain contingency) · it responsabile (legally responsible) · ru скло́нный (exposed to a certain contingency) · de haftpflichtig (legally responsible) · de neigend (exposed to a certain contingency) · ca responsable (legally responsible) · es propenso (subject; susceptible) · pl odpowiedzialny (legally responsible) · uk яки́й підляга́є (exposed to a certain contingency) · hi उत्तरदायी (legally responsible) · ro responsabil (legally responsible)