Duty Definition

do͝otē, dyo͝o-
duties
noun
duties
The obedience or respect that one should show toward one's parents, older people, etc.
Webster's New World
Required action or service.
Jury duty; beyond the call of duty.
American Heritage
Any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one's occupation or position.
The duties of a secretary.
Webster's New World
Conduct based on moral or legal obligation, or a sense of propriety.
One's duty to vote.
Webster's New World
Service, esp. military service.
Overseas duty.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
idiom
duty bound
  • Obliged:

    You are duty bound to help your little sister and brother.

American Heritage
off duty
  • Not engaged in or responsible for assigned work.
American Heritage
on duty
  • Engaged in or responsible for assigned work.
American Heritage
do duty for
  • to substitute for; serve as
Webster's New World
on (<i>or</i> off) duty
  • officially engaged (or not officially engaged) in one's duties
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Duty

Noun

Singular:
duty
Plural:
duties

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Duty

Origin of Duty

  • From Middle English duete, from Old French deu (“due”), past participle of devoir (“to owe”), from Latin debere (“to owe”), from de (“from”) + habere (“to have”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English duete from Anglo-Norman from due variant of Old French deu due due

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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