noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/laɪəˈbɪlɪti/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:L AY2 AH0 B IH1 L IH0 T IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An obligation, debt or responsibility owed to someone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An obligation, debt or responsibility owed to someone.
Any kind of debt recorded on the right-hand side of a balance sheet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: accounting, business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: asset
3
noun
Meaning 3
A handicap that holds something back, a drawback, someone or something that is a burden to whoever is required to take care of them; a person or action that exposes others to greater risk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A handicap that holds something back, a drawback, someone or something that is a burden to whoever is required to take care of them; a person or action that exposes others to greater risk.
A person on a team that is more of a hindrance than a help.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Etymology tree English liable Proto-Indo-European *-teh2 Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh2ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English liability From liable + -ity.
Across languages
Translations
93 source translations are retained for this English entry.