duty

Idioms · Synonyms · Finance Definition · Law Definition · Usage Examples

duty Definition

duty (do̵̅o̅t′ē, dyo̵̅o̅t′ē)

noun pl. -·ties

the obedience or respect that one should show toward one's parents, older people, etc.
conduct based on moral or legal obligation, or a sense of propriety one's duty to vote
any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one's occupation or position the duties of a secretary
a sense or feeling of obligation duty calls
service, esp. military service overseas duty
a payment due to the government, esp. a tax imposed on imports, exports, or manufactured goods
Brit. the performance of a machine as measured by the output of work per unit of fuel
the amount of work that a machine is meant to do; rated efficiency under specified conditions
☆ Agric. the amount of water needed for irrigation per acre per crop

Etymology: ME duete < Anglo-Fr dueté, what is due (owing): see due & -ty

duty Idioms

do duty for

to substitute for; serve as

on (or off) duty

at (or temporarily relieved from) one's work, duty, etc.

duty Finance Definition

A tax or payment imposed by a government on the goods that a company imports or exports. Goods that do not require the payment of a duty are called duty free.

duty Law Definition

A legally-defined responsibility to perform certain acts or meet certain standards of performance; an essential element of proof in a tort action is that the defendant had a duty to act in a certain manner, such as the duty to use due care in the operation of a motor vehicle. Duties may be mandated by law, such as the duty to pay taxes, or may be voluntary, such as those assumed under a contract.

delegable duty

A duty that may be transferred to another.

nondelegable duty

A duty that one must perform personally, and that may not be delegated to another.

duty Usage Examples

Preposition: of

confidentiality: The overriding duty of confidentiality is covered elsewhere in the Code, so this provision is simply a restatement.
care: We have a duty of care to ensure that all our patients are not put at risk whilst visiting the Medical Center.

Converse of object

owe: The tribunal began by setting out the duty owed by an expert witness.
impose: There are various duties imposed on holders of Personal Licenses.
perform: Is an employe entitled to time off to perform public duties?
discharge: South Thames Regional Branch were very fortunate to have the services of Rae Lee and Wendy Burley who discharged these duties admirably.
undertake: In practice, the poorest people with the hardest lives are expected to undertake heroic civic duties.
bind: I did this myself, however, as in duty bound.

Adjective modifier

statutory: Details of your statutory duties are set out below.
excise: TPD Tobacco Products Duty - an excise duty chargeable on tobacco products.
secretarial: For the past six years Paul Shilston has undertaken the secretarial duties without which such an event would not take place.
heavy: Heavy duty Wega Gemini bean to cup with built in milk Fridge.
legal: We will introduce a legal duty to trade fairly, enforced by a Food Trade Inspector within the Office of Fair Trading.
administrative: Some administrative duties will be involved such as monitoring attendance etc. Training will be given ( end of October ).

Modifies a noun

holder: Are Is there a need for better liaison between the site occupier and duty holders who deliver or pick up goods?

Noun used with modifier

stamp: Stamp duties are payable in a number of situations in the Bahamas.
excise: NHS vehicles that are exempt from vehicle excise duty.
import: The tax would have to be payable on the item entering the country, effectively operating as an import duty.
fuel: Busses: Finding ways of changing the current fuel duty rebate regime to promote the use of cleaner vehicles.
custom: Also, little attention is being paid to the impact of free trade on government revenues from customs duties.

Browse dictionary entries near duty

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