Dictionary entry details
• OBLIGATION (noun)
Meaning:
The social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
obligation; responsibility; duty
Context examples:
we must instill a sense of duty in our children / every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty
Hypernyms ("obligation" is a kind of...):
social control (control exerted (actively or passively) by group action)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "obligation"):
job (the responsibility to do something)
demand; requirement (required activity)
prerequisite; requirement (something that is required in advance)
white man's burden (the supposed responsibility of the white race to provide care for their non-white subjects)
line of duty (all that is normally required in some area of responsibility)
legal duty (acts which the law requires be done or forborne)
incumbency (a duty that is incumbent upon you)
imperative (some duty that is essential and urgent)
filial duty (duty of a child to its parents)
civic duty; civic responsibility (the responsibilities of a citizen)
burden of proof (the duty of proving a disputed charge)
noblesse oblige (the obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous (often used ironically))
moral obligation (an obligation arising out of considerations of right and wrong)
guardianship; keeping; safekeeping (the responsibility of a guardian or keeper)
Meaning:
The state of being obligated to do or pay something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Context example:
he is under an obligation to finish the job
Hypernyms ("obligation" is a kind of...):
state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "obligation"):
financial obligation; indebtedness; liability (an obligation to pay money to another party)
Meaning:
A personal relation in which one is indebted for a service or favor
Classified under:
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas
Synonyms:
indebtedness; obligation
Hypernyms ("obligation" is a kind of...):
personal relation; personal relationship (a relation between persons)
Meaning:
A legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("obligation" is a kind of...):
written agreement (a legal document summarizing the agreement between parties)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "obligation"):
debt (an obligation to pay or do something)
