Definitions for obligation
ˌɒb lɪˈgeɪ ʃənobli·ga·tion

Princeton's WordNet(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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

2. obligationnoun

   the state of being obligated to do or pay something

   "he is under an obligation to finish the job"

3. obligation, indebtednessnoun

   a personal relation in which one is indebted for a service or favor

4. debt instrument, obligation, certificate of indebtednessnoun

   a written promise to repay a debt

5. obligationnoun

   a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. obligationnoun

   The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.

   Etymology: From Latin obligatio, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- to + ligare to bind, from leig-.

2. obligationnoun

   A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.

   Etymology: From Latin obligatio, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- to + ligare to bind, from leig-.

3. obligationnoun

   A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.

   Etymology: From Latin obligatio, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- to + ligare to bind, from leig-.

4. 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-.

Wikipedia(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. 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.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Obligationnoun

   the act of obligating

   Etymology: [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See Oblige.]

2. 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

   Etymology: [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See Oblige.]

3. 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

   Etymology: [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See Oblige.]

4. 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

   Etymology: [F. obligation. L. obligatio. See Oblige.]

5. 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.]

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. 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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. obligation

   A bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed for payment of money or performance of covenants.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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

1. • Document
   • Personal Relation
   • State
   • Written Agreement

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'obligation' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4107

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'obligation' in Nouns Frequency: #1086

How to pronounce obligation?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say obligation in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of obligation in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of obligation in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of obligation in a Sentence

1. Elena Liberatoris:

   With that ruling I wanted to tell society something new, that animals are sentient beings and that the first right they have is our obligation to respect them.

2. James Madison:

   The eyes of the world being thus on our Country, it is put the more on its good behavior, and under the greater obligation also, to do justice to the Tree of Liberty by an exhibition of the fine fruits we gather from it.

3. Stephanie Rawlings-Blake:

   I understand the frustration of the community and I take very seriously our obligation of transparency, we also have to balance that with our obligation to ensure a proper and thorough investigation is undertaken.

4. Norman Siegel:

   They'd have to prove there was affirmative obligation by the city and the police department to protect the safety of the people in the club.

5. Evelyn Yang:

   My personal life and this growing public life -- theyre not separate.In this case, my experience with thesexual assault and then what happened --all that happened afterward is such a powerful and upsetting example of the truth that women are living with every day, and I just happen to have a platform to talk about it. I need to use that voice. I feel like its something thats an obligation but also a privilege and a gift that I get to share my story now and also help other women.

Images & Illustrations of obligation

Popularity rank by frequency of use