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obligation

Definition of obligation

an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment: [with infinitive]:I have an obligation to look after her
[mass noun] 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 favour:she didn’t want to be under an obligation to him
Law a binding agreement committing a person to a payment or other action.

Phrases

day of obligation: (in the Roman Catholic Church) a day on which all are required to attend Mass.

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 US English dictionary

Nearby words

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