Dictionary

obligation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ˌɒb.ləˈɡæɪ.ʃən/ (New-Zealand)
/ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
/ˌɑ.bləˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada
/ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˌɑ.blɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada
(US) audio
/ˌɔb.lɪˈɡæɪ.ʃən/ (Australia)
/ˌɔ̟b.ləˈɡæɪ.ʃən/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From Middle English obligacioun, from Old French obligacion, from Latin obligatio, obligationem, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- (“to”) + ligare (“to bind”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind”).

Meanings

(countable, uncountable) The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
(countable, uncountable) A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
- The only responsibility and power of the Vice President under the Constitution is to faithfully count the electoral college votes as they have been cast. The Constitution does not empower the Vice President to alter in any way the votes that have been cast, either by rejecting certain of them or otherwise. How the Vice President discharges this constitutional obligation is not a question of his loyalty to the President any more than it would be a test of a President’s loyalty to his Vice President whether the President assented to the impeachment and prosecution of his Vice President for the commission of high crimes while in office. No President and no Vice President would—or should—consider either event as a test of political loyalty of one to the other. And if either did, he would have to accept that political loyalty must yield to constitutional obligation. Neither the President nor the Vice President has any higher loyalty than to the Constitution. 2021 January 5, J. Michael Luttig, Twitter, archived from the original on 05 Jan 2021; republished as Washington Post, 5 January 2021:
- I feel I'm under obligation to attend my sister's wedding, even though we have a very frosty relationship.
(countable, uncountable) A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
(countable, uncountable) A legal agreement stipulating a specified action or forbearance by a party to the agreement; the document containing such agreement.
- The Pupil after his Pupillarity, had granted a Diſcharge to one of the Co-tutors, which did extinguiſh the whole Debt of that Co-tutor, and conſequently of all the reſt, they being all correi debendi, lyable by one individual Obligation, which cannot be Diſcharged as to one, and ſtand as to all the reſt. December 19 1668, James Dalrymple, “Mr.Alexander Seaton contra Menzies”, in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion, Edinburgh, published 1683, page 575:
(countable) Reason for being obliged to, that is, grateful for, something.
- I am indebted to several friends for notes, observations, and correspondence on this subject, more especially to one, referred to as "Z.," and to another as "Q.," who have obtained a considerable number of reliable histories for me, and have also supplied many valuable notes [...]. Other obligations are mentioned in the text. 1927, Havelock Ellis, chapter 2, in Studies in the Psychology of Sex:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
obligations	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Coordinates

right (antonym(s) of “requirement, duty, contract or promise”)

Deriveds

collateralized fund obligation · disobligation · Sunday obligation · collateralized debt obligation · counterobligation · remaining performance obligation · moral obligation · collateralized loan obligation · debt obligation · holy day of obligation

obligate · obligated · oblige · obliger · obligee · obligor · obligingness · obligational · obligingly · obliging · obligatorily · obligato

Synonyms

duty (requirement, duty, contract or promise) · commitment (the act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone)

Translations (211)

gd còir (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tr görev (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · es deber (legal agreement) · es obligación (legal agreement) · az vəzifə (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · da forpligtelse (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · es compromiso (legal agreement) · gd comain (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hu kötelezvény (legal agreement) · de Verpflichtung (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · fr obligation (social, legal, or moral requirement) · sh ȍbveza (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ar فَرْض (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ja 義務 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · sw wajibu (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · th หน้าที่ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · km កាតព្វកិច្ច (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · kk парыз (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tk borç (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · pdt Flicht (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uk зобов'я́зання (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · lt pareiga (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hu elkötelezettség (social, legal, or moral requirement) · el υποχρέωση (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uz burch (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ga oibleagáid (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · hu kötelezettség (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ota منت (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · mt obligazzjoni (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · lo ພັນທະ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ro obligație (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ca obligació (social, legal, or moral requirement) · be абавя́зак (social, legal, or moral requirement) · kk борыш (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ky милдеттенме (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uk обо́в'язок (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · az öhdəlik (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · es deber (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · ur فَرْض (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · is kvöð (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · prs وَظِیفَه (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hi नैतिक (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · pdt Flicht (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ug مەجبۇرىيەت (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uz vazifa (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · pt obrigação (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · be абавяза́цельства (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ca compromís (social, legal, or moral requirement) · mn үүрэг (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tg вазифа (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · bg задълже́ние (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · eo devo (social, legal, or moral requirement) · gl obriga (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ur وَظِیفَہ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · et kohustus (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · el υποχρέωση (social, legal, or moral requirement) · mi herenga (social, legal, or moral requirement) · gl obrigación (legal agreement) · gd comain (social, legal, or moral requirement) · hi फ़र्ज़ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ps فرض (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · yue 義務 /义务 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · et kohus (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ru обя́занность (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · az borc (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ky борч (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tk wezipe (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ru долг (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hu elköteleződés (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · fi velvollisuus (social, legal, or moral requirement) · is binding (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · sk povinnosť (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · de Pflicht (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · mk обврска (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · fi sitoumus (legal agreement) · ko 의무 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · mi herenga (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · lv saistība (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · es obligación (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · cs povinnost (social, legal, or moral requirement) · sk záväzok (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · mi takohanga (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · it dovere (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · lt įsipareigojimas (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · pl zobowiązanie (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · cho aheka (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · it obbligo (social, legal, or moral requirement) · he חוֹב (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · eo sindevigo (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · th พันธะ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hy պարտավորություն (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · sv förpliktelse (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · pl zobowiązanie (legal agreement) · hi कर्तव्य (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hi धर्म (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · fi velvollisuus (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · sq detyrim (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · la obligātiō (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · is skylda (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ro obligare (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · pt compromisso (social, legal, or moral requirement) · es obligación (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · ar وَظِيفَة (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · bn দায়িত্ব (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ota منت (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ko 책임 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · mk задолжение (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · gl obriga (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · fr obligation (legal agreement) · sh ȍbaveza (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · fi sitoutuminen (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · it obbligazione (legal agreement) · ota اصر (social, legal, or moral requirement) · bg дълг (social, legal, or moral requirement) · fr obligation (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · be доўг (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ka ვალდებულება (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · be паві́ннасць (social, legal, or moral requirement) · hy պարտականություն (social, legal, or moral requirement) · tl harapin (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uk обо́в'язок (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ps وظيفه (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ky боруч (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · nb plikt (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ar فَرِيضَة (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uk пови́нність (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · be паві́ннасць (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · lt įpareigojimas (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · gd còir (social, legal, or moral requirement) · sk povinnosť (social, legal, or moral requirement) · eo ŝuldiĝo (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · lo ໜ້າທີ່ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ga oibleagáid (social, legal, or moral requirement) · es compromiso (social, legal, or moral requirement) · fr obligation (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · ru обяза́тельство (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · txb ārk (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · sv plikt (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ja 責任 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tl harapin (legal agreement) · da pligt (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ro obligație (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tr vazife (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hu kötelesség (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · fa-ira وَظیفِه (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · sq do bërë (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hi दायित्व (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · mt obbligu (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hu kötelezettségvállalás (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uk борг (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · nl plicht (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · sk záväzok (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ota اصر (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · lv pienākums (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tr yükümlülük (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · my တာဝန် (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uz majburiyat (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · nl verplichting (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ru обя́занность (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · cs závazek (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · be паві́ннасьць (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ky милдет (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ru долг (social, legal, or moral requirement) · es obligación (social, legal, or moral requirement) · sh о̏бвеза (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · is plikt (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ps مکلفیت (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · bg дълг (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · pt obrigação (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ug ۋەزىپە (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · gl obriga (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · ga dualgas (social, legal, or moral requirement) · gl obrigación (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · rif amerwas (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · he חוֹבָה (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uk зобов'яза́ння (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · az borc (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · cs povinnost (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · pl powinność (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · gd còir (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · hi नैतिकता (social, legal, or moral requirement) · da pligt (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · pl obowiązek (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tl harapin (social, legal, or moral requirement) · ar وَاجِب (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · be абавя́зак (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ru обя́занность (social, legal, or moral requirement) · cmn 責任 /责任 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · ga oibleagáid (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · it vincolo (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · sl obveznost (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · vi nghĩa vụ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · cmn 義務 /义务 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · it obbligo (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · fr obligation ((countable) reason for being obliged, grateful) · lt prievolė (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · uk пови́нність (social, legal, or moral requirement) · sh о̏бавеза (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · kk міндеттеме (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · hu lekötelezettség (social, legal, or moral requirement) · eo devo (course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience) · ca obligació (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · nb forpliktelse (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · cs závazek (social, legal, or moral requirement) · da pligt (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · cho aheka (social, legal, or moral requirement) · sv skyldighet (social, legal, or moral requirement) · yue 責任 /责任 (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · th ภารกิจ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · km ក្រឹត្យ (act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone) · tr yükümlülük (social, legal, or moral requirement)