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Webster 1913 Edition


Liability

Liˊa-bil′i-ty

(līˊȧ-bĭl′ĭ-ty̆)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Liabilities
(-tĭz)
.
1.
The state of being liable;
as, the
liability
of an insurer;
liability
to accidents;
liability
to the law.
2.
That which one is under obligation to pay, or for which one is liable.
Specifically, in the
pl.
,
the sum of one’s pecuniary obligations; – opposed to
assets
.
Limited liability
.
See
Limited company
, under
Limited
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Liability

LIABIL'ITY

,
Noun.
1.
The state of being bound or obliged in law or justice; responsibility. The officer wishes to discharge himself from his liability.
2.
Exposedness; tendency; a state of being subject; as the liableness of a man to contract disease in an infected room; a liability to accidents.

Definition 2024


liability

liability

English

Noun

liability (plural liabilities)

  1. the condition of being liable.
  2. an obligation, debt or responsibility owed to someone.
    • 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw
      "I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim all responsibility," continued the other. "They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."
  3. a handicap that holds something back.
    • 2016 January 31, "Is Huma Abedin Hillary Clinton’s Secret Weapon or Her Next Big Problem?," Vanity Fair (retrieved 21 January 2016):
      Asked if at some point Huma becomes a liability to Hillary, the long-term Clinton insider replies, “It’s like anything else. I don’t think so, but you know I don’t have any idea. Hillary is very loyal, but she’s obviously pragmatic.”
  4. the likelihood of something happening.

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations