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obligation definition

ob·li·ga·tion (äb′li gā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. an obligating or being obligated
  2. a binding contract, promise, moral responsibility, etc.
  3. a duty imposed legally or socially; thing that one is bound to do by contract, promise, moral responsibility, etc.
  4. the binding power of a contract, promise, etc.
    1. the condition or fact of being indebted to another for a favor or service received
    2. a favor or service
  6. Law
    1. an agreement or duty by which one person (the obligor) is legally bound to make payment or perform services for the benefit of another (the obligee)
    2. the bond, contract, or other document setting forth the terms of this agreement

Etymology: ME obligacioun < OFr obligation < L obligatio

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law obligation definition - legal

obligation Synonyms

obligation

n.

necessity, commitment, burden, debt; see duty 1, responsibility 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

obligation Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • impose: The regulations do not impose an obligation to remove asbestos in all cases of discovery.

Adjective modifier

  • contractual: We are born into the contractual obligations of a language already in use.

Modifies a noun

  • quotation: Please contact us to request a color brochure or no obligation quotation.

Noun used with modifier

  • facie: A prima facie obligation is one ' that must be fulfilled unless it conflicts on a particular occasion with an equal or stronger obligation.

Preposition: of

  • confidentiality: The obligation of confidentiality usually lasts until a patent application is filed.

Preposition: under

  • agreement: You may not assign your rights or obligations under this Agreement to any party.
obligation usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

obligation quotes

I yield to no one in my devotion to this great League of Nations, but not even for this will I destroy that smaller but older league of which my own country was the birthplace, and of which it remains the centre† Beware how you so draw tight the bonds, how you so pile obligation on obligation and sanction on sanction, lest at last you find that you are not living nations but dead states.

-Chamberlain, Sir (Joseph) Austen

On the contrary, the mere fact of dealing with matters outside the general run of everyday experience laid me under the obligation of a more scrupulous fidelity to the truth of my own sensations. The problem was to make unfamiliar things credible.

-Constantinus

A man said to the universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,'replied the universe, 'The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation.'

-Crane, Stephen

obligation quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"obligation." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/obligation>

APA Style

obligation. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/obligation

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