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obligation

Syllabification: (ob·li·ga·tion)

Definition of obligation

an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment:he has enough cash to meet his present obligations [with infinitive]:I have an obligation to look after her
the condition of being morally or legally bound to do something:they are under no obligation to stick to the scheme
a debt of gratitude for a service or favor:she didn’t want to be under an obligation to him
Law a binding agreement committing a person to a payment or other action.

Derivatives

Middle English (in the sense 'formal promise'): via Old French from Latin obligatio(n-), from the verb obligare (see oblige)

Definition of obligation in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

More results for obligation