responsible — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.

   Usage

   • postpositional
   • followed by "for"

   Examples

   Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.

2. Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.

   Usage

   • postpositional
   • followed by "for"

   Examples

   Who is responsible for this mess?

   More examples (1)

   […]Karius was a danger to his own team, responsible for Madrid’s two other goals and last seen wandering aimlessly around the pitch – alone, distraught and clearly traumatised – to ask forgiveness, hands clasped, from the thousands of Liverpool supporters.

3. Answerable to (a superior).

   Usage

   • followed by "to"

4. Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.

   Usage

   • of a job or position

   Examples

   She has a responsible position in the firm.

5. Having good judgment in decision-making.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.

6. Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.

   Examples

   He looks like a responsible guy.

7. Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.

Noun

1. The person who bears the responsibility for something.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Were this not so, long since would we have traced directly home the responsibility for the war on Freedom in the Philippines. Long since, would we have hanged the responsibles as traitors to our country.

2. An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.

   Examples

   […] first appeared on August Bank Holiday, 1901, at Grand Theatre, Llandudno, playing "responsibles" with Edward Compton; […]

   More examples (1)

   'Well, the Cardinal is the heavy part, isn't it?' 'I know.' 'Then,' said I, 'you'd better go'; and one of the Responsibles took it on, and was perfect on the night.

Adjective

1. worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable

   Antonyms

   irresponsible

   Examples

   a responsible adult

   responsible journalism

   More examples (3)

   a responsible position

   the captain is responsible for the ship's safety

   the cabinet is responsible to the parliament

2. being the agent or cause

   Synonyms

   responsible for

   Examples

   determined who was the responsible party

   termites were responsible for the damage

3. having an acceptable credit rating

   Synonyms

   creditworthy

   Examples

   a responsible borrower