responsible

Etymology

From French responsable, from Latin responsus, from respondere.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈspɒnsəbl̩/
• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈspɑnsəbəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

responsible (comparative more responsible, superlative most responsible)

1. Answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
   • 2012 March 1, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 2, page 87:

     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.

   Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.

2. Capable of responding to any reasonable claim; able to answer reasonably for one's conduct and obligations; capable of rational conduct.
3. Involving responsibility; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.

   She has a responsible position in the firm.

4. Being a primary cause or agent of some event or action; capable of being credited for something, or of being held liable for something.

   Who is responsible for this mess?

   • 2018 May 26, Daniel Taylor, “Liverpool go through after Mohamed Salah stops Manchester City fightback”, in The Guardian (London)‎:

     {{..}}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.

5. Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.

   He looks like a responsible guy.

References

• responsible in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• responsible in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913