noun · 7 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
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈəʊnəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ˈoʊnəs/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊnəs
CMU ARPABET:OW1 N AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A legal obligation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The onus is on the landlord to make sure the walls are protected from mildew.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Burden of proof, onus probandi.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Stigma.
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
Blame.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
He'll always bear the onus of having caused the accident.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Responsibility; burden.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The onus is on those who disagree with my proposal to explain why.
The onus is on you to make the first move.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
plural of ONU
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, plural
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
an onerous or difficult concern
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the burden of responsibility
that's a load off my mind
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: burden, load, encumbrance, incumbrance
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: concern, worry, headache, vexation
Narrower terms: dead weight, fardel, imposition, pill
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h3enh2- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h3énh2os Proto-Italic *onos Latin onuslbor. English onus Learned borrowing from Latin onus (literally “burden”).
Across languages
Translations
40 source translations are retained for this English entry.
