Obligation definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

obligation in American English · a. an agreement or duty by which one person (the obligor) is legally bound to make payment or perform services for the benefit ... EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Sentences Video LearnEnglish Videopronunciations Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Japanese Definitionof 'obligation'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× obligation (ɒblɪgeɪʃən ) Wordforms:pluralobligations 1. variablenoun[usuallyNOUNto-infinitive] Ifyouhaveanobligationtodosomething,itisyourdutytodothatthing. Whenteachersassignhomework,studentsusuallyfeelanobligationtodoit. Ministersareundernoobligationtofollowthecommittee'srecommendations. 2. variablenoun Ifyouhaveanobligationtoaperson,itisyourdutytolookafterthemorprotecttheirinterests. TheUnitedStateswilldothatwhichisnecessarytomeetitsobligationstoits owncitizens.[+to] Ihaveanethicalandamoralobligationtomyclient.[+to] Synonyms:responsibility,duty,liability,accountability MoreSynonymsofobligation 3. Seewithoutobligation MoreSynonymsofobligation COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof obligation Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'obligation' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'obligation' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'fellwalker' HindiTranslationof'obligation' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency obligationinBritishEnglish (ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən ) noun1. amoralorlegalrequirement;duty 2. theactofobligatingorthestateofbeingobligated 3. law alegallyenforceableagreementtoperformsomeact,esptopaymoney,forthebenefitofanotherparty 4. lawa. awrittencontractcontainingapenalty b. aninstrumentacknowledgingindebtednesstosecuretherepaymentofmoneyborrowed 5. apersonorthingtowhichoneisboundmorallyorlegally 6. somethingowedinreturnforaserviceorfavour 7. aserviceorfavourforwhichoneisindebted CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Derivedformsobligational(ˌobliˈgational)adjective WordFrequency obligationinAmericanEnglish (ˌɑblɪˈgeɪʃən ) noun1.  anobligatingorbeingobligated 2.  abindingcontract,promise,moralresponsibility,etc. 3.  adutyimposedlegallyorsocially;thingthatoneisboundtodobycontract,promise,moralresponsibility, etc. 4.  thebindingpowerofacontract,promise,etc. 5. a.  theconditionorfactofbeingindebtedtoanotherforafavororservicereceived b.  afavororservice 6. Lawa.  anagreementordutybywhichoneperson(theobligor)islegallyboundtomakepaymentorperformservicesforthebenefitofanother(theobligee) b.  thebond,contract,orotherdocumentsettingforththetermsofthisagreement Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. Derivedformsobligational(ˌobliˈgational) adjective WordoriginMEobligacioun