Obligation
ob-li-GAY-shuhn
/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən/
An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment.
Implies a strong sense of duty or a legal requirement that must be fulfilled.
The story behind the word. The word 'obligation' comes from the Latin verb obligare, which literally meant 'to bind to.' It's formed from ob- (to, toward) and ligare (to bind). So, when you have an 'obligation,' you are metaphorically 'bound to' a duty or commitment, much like being tied to a task. This ancient sense of being tied or constrained perfectly captures the weight and necessity of fulfilling a promise or responsibility.
Word relationships
- Duty: A moral or legal requirement.
- Responsibility: The state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something.
- Commitment: The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
- Option: A thing that is or may be chosen.
- Freedom: The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
Commonly confused with
- Responsibility: An 'obligation' is a specific duty you are bound to; 'responsibility' is a broader term for being accountable or having a role to play.
Word family
- oblige (verb): to make (someone) legally or morally bound to an action or course of action
- obligatory (adjective): required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory
Collocations
- legal obligation
- moral obligation
- financial obligation
- fulfill an obligation
- meet an obligation
Idioms & expressions
- under obligation
Example sentences
- "As a signatory to the contract, the company has a legal obligation to deliver the software by the agreed date." Referring to a legal duty.
- "She felt a strong moral obligation to help those less fortunate in her community." Describing a moral duty.
- "The government has an obligation to repay its national debt." Discussing a financial commitment.
Memory hook
An OBLIGATION is something you are OB-ligated (bound) to do. OB-LIG-ation: Bound to it.
When not to use
Do not use 'obligation' for casual preferences or optional tasks. It implies a necessity or binding requirement.
Fun facts
- The word 'ligament,' the fibrous tissue connecting bones, also shares the same Latin root ligare ('to bind'), illustrating the physical sense of connection and binding.
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