duty
DYOO-tee
/ˈdjuː.ti/
A legal or moral obligation to act or refrain from acting in a certain way towards others.
In legal contexts, specifically refers to 'duty of care'—the legal standard requiring reasonable caution.
The story behind the word. Derived from Anglo-French duete, from Old French deu ('owed'), stemming from Latin debere. It originally denoted what was due or owed to a lord before signifying general moral and legal obligations.
Word relationships
- obligation: Obligation is a general requirement to act, whereas duty often emphasizes a recognized legal relationship.
- option: An option is a voluntary choice, unlike an obligatory duty.
Commonly confused with
- right: A duty is an obligation owed to others; a right is an entitlement held by oneself.
Word family
- dutiable (adjective): Subject to custom duties or taxes
- dutiful (adjective): Fulfilling one's obligations conscientiously
Collocations
- duty of care
- breach of duty
- statutory duty
- fiduciary duty
Idioms & expressions
- off duty
- on duty
- sense of duty
Example sentences
- "Physicians have a legal duty to provide competent medical treatment to their patients." Medical law ethics
- "The court examined whether motorists owe a duty of care to pedestrians at unmarked crossings." Common law ruling
Memory hook
DUE + To = DUTY (what is due to someone). What you legal owe to protect others.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to voluntary favors that carry no obligation.
Fun facts
- The concept of 'fiduciary duty' requires corporate officers to place the company's financial interests above their own.
Related words
Explore more words
obligation, conscientious, ethical, propriety, fiduciary, Right
Also appears in
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