Definitions for obligation
ˌɒb lɪˈgeɪ ʃənobli·ga·tion

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

1. duty, responsibility, obligation(noun)

   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. obligation(noun)

   the state of being obligated to do or pay something

   "he is under an obligation to finish the job"

3. obligation, indebtedness(noun)

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

4. debt instrument, obligation, certificate of indebtedness(noun)

   a written promise to repay a debt

5. obligation(noun)

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

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. obligation(Noun)

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

2. obligation(Noun)

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

3. obligation(Noun)

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

4. obligation(Noun)

   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.

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

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

1. Obligation(noun)

   the act of obligating

2. Obligation(noun)

   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

3. Obligation(noun)

   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

4. Obligation(noun)

   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

5. Obligation(noun)

   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

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

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)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.

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

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Magd Eddin al-Masri:

   Jihad in Egypt is an obligation.

2. Salah Ahmed:

   It's not her obligation to do all that.

3. Bryane Michael:

   No right exists without its complementary obligation.

4. Publius Celsus:

   There is no legal obligation to perform impossibilities.

5. Neil deGrasse Tyson:

   The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.

Images & Illustrations of obligation

Popularity rank by frequency of use