What does obligation mean?
Definitions for obligation
ˌɒb lɪˈgeɪ ʃənobli·ga·tion
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word obligation.
Princeton's WordNet
duty, responsibility, obligationnoun
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
"we must instill a sense of duty in our children"; "every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty"- John D.Rockefeller Jr
obligationnoun
the state of being obligated to do or pay something
"he is under an obligation to finish the job"
obligation, indebtednessnoun
a personal relation in which one is indebted for a service or favor
debt instrument, obligation, certificate of indebtednessnoun
a written promise to repay a debt
obligationnoun
a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply
Wiktionary
obligationnoun
The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
obligationnoun
A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
obligationnoun
A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
obligationnoun
A legal agreement stipulating a specified payment or action; the document containing such agreement.
X shall be entitled to subcontract its obligation to provide the Support Services.
Etymology: From Latin obligatio, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- to + ligare to bind, from leig-.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Obligationnoun
Etymology: obligatio, from obligo, Lat. obligation, Fr.
Your father lost a father;
That father his; and the survivor bound
In filial obligation, for some term,
To do obsequious sorrow. William Shakespeare, Hamlet.There was no means for him as a christian, to satisfy all obligations both to God and man, but to offer himself for a mediator of an accord and peace. Francis Bacon, Henry VII.
The better to satisfy this double obligation, you have early cultivated the genius you have to arms. Dryden.
No ties can bind, that from constraint arise,
Where either’s forc’d, all obligation dies. George Granville.The heir of an obliged person is not bound to make restitution, if the obligation passed only by a personal act; but if it passed from his person to his estate, then the estate passes with all its burthen. Jeremy Taylor, Rule of Living Holy.
Where is the obligation of any man’s making me a present of what he does not care for himself? Roger L'Estrange.
So quick a sense did the Israelites entertain of the merits of Gideon, and the obligation he had laid upon them, that they tender him the regal and hereditary government of that people. Robert South, Sermons.
Wikipedia
Obligation
An obligation is a course of action that someone is required to take, whether legal or moral. Obligations are constraints; they limit our freedom. We can choose however, to freely act under obligations. Obligation exists when there is a choice to do what is morally good and what is morally unacceptable. There are also obligations in other normative contexts, such as obligations of etiquette, social obligations, religious and possibly in terms of politics, where obligations are requirements which must be fulfilled. These are generally legal obligations, which can incur a penalty for non-fulfilment, although certain people are obliged to carry out certain actions for other reasons as well, whether as a tradition or for social reasons. Obligations vary from person to person: for example, a person holding a political office will generally have far more obligations than an average adult citizen, who themselves will have more obligations than a child. Obligations are generally granted in return for an increase in an individual's rights or power. For example, an employer-to-employee obligation for health and safety in a workplace may be to ensure that the fire exit is not blocked.
ChatGPT
obligation
An obligation is a duty or responsibility that an individual is legally or morally bound to perform. It can be a requirement or a commitment resulting from a law, contract, promise, or social relationship. Failure to fulfill an obligation may result in legal penalties or social consequences.
Webster Dictionary
Obligationnoun
the act of obligating
Obligationnoun
that which obligates or constrains; the binding power of a promise, contract, oath, or vow, or of law; that which constitutes legal or moral duty
Obligationnoun
any act by which a person becomes bound to do something to or for anouther, or to forbear something; external duties imposed by law, promise, or contract, by the relations of society, or by courtesy, kindness, etc
Obligationnoun
the state of being obligated or bound; the state of being indebted for an act of favor or kindness; as, to place others under obligations to one
Obligationnoun
a bond with a condition annexed, and a penalty for nonfulfillment. In a larger sense, it is an acknowledgment of a duty to pay a certain sum or do a certain things
Etymology: [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See Oblige.]
Wikidata
Obligation
An obligation is a course of action that someone is required to take, whether legal or moral. There are also obligations in other normative contexts, such as obligations of etiquette, social obligations, and possibly in terms of politics, where obligations are requirements which must be fulfilled. These are generally legal obligations, which can incur a penalty for non-fulfilment, although certain people are obliged to carry out certain actions for other reasons as well, whether as a tradition or for social reasons. Obligations vary from person to person: for example, a person holding a political office will generally have far more obligations than an average adult citizen, who themselves will have more obligations than a child. Obligations are generally granted in return for an increase in an individual's rights or power. For example, obligations for health and safety in a workplace from employer to employee maybe to ensure the fire exit isn't blocked or ensure that the plugs are put in firmly. The word "obligation" can also designate a written obligation, or such things as bank notes, coins, checks, bonds, stamps, or securities.
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
obligation
A bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed for payment of money or performance of covenants.
Editors Contribution
obligation
An agreement to do, achieve or complete a goal or task.
The obligation was to ensure that everyone's voice was heard and it was easily achieved as they listened.
Submitted by MaryC on February 13, 2020
Matched Categories
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'obligation' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4107
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'obligation' in Nouns Frequency: #1086
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of obligation in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of obligation in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5
Examples of obligation in a Sentence
I've made it absolutely clear to President Putin, if he moves on Ukraine, the economic consequences for his economy are going to be devastating. Devastating, number one. Number two, we will find it required that we'll have to send more American and NATO troops into the Eastern Flank, the( Bucharest) 9, all those NATO countries where we have a sacred obligation to defend them against any attack by Russia. And number three, the impact of all of that on Russia and his attitude, the rest of the world, his view of Russia would change markedly. He'll pay a terrible price.
I did not like the idea that, in order to maintain my personal and scientific integrity, and in order to fulfill my obligation to the country, as a public health official and as a scientist, I had to publicly disagree with several of the things that [former President Donald Trump], who they follow to the last word, was saying.
It is our obligation to ensure that recipients of federal funding are in compliance with federal laws that guarantee equal access and opportunity for all.
When the country has been through something as grave as this was, everyone who has information has an obligation to step forward. So I would hope that he will do that.
Your inventory is competing with criminal inventory. You absolutely have every obligation.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for obligation
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- التزام, واجبArabic
- абавяза́цельства, абавя́закBelarusian
- závazekCzech
- pligtDanish
- Verpflichtung, PflichtGerman
- υποχρέωσηGreek
- obligación, comprometerse, deber, compromisoSpanish
- sitoutuminen, velvollisuus, sitoumusFinnish
- obligationFrench
- oibleagáidIrish
- comain, còirScottish Gaelic
- कर्तव्यHindi
- lekötelezettség, kötelesség, kötelezettségHungarian
- kewajibanIndonesian
- obbligoItalian
- חובהHebrew
- 責任, 義務Japanese
- 義務, 의무Korean
- obowiązekPolish
- compromisso, obrigaçãoPortuguese
- obligare, obligațieRomanian
- обязательство, обязанность, долгRussian
- skyldighetSwedish
- ภาระผูกพันThai
- yükümlülükTurkish
- зобов'язанняUkrainian
- 義務, nghĩa vụVietnamese
- 义务Chinese
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"obligation." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/obligation>.
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