Words / B1

DYOOT-ee/ˈdjuːti/

A duty is something you must do because of your job or because it is right. On duty / off duty (police, nurses); a sense of duty. A job is paid employment; a task is one piece of work; duty sounds more official or moral. Duty-free is airport shopping, a different use. Duties (plural) often lists job responsibilities.

Meaning

Something you must do because of your job or because it is right.

Examples

• “It is your duty to tell the truth.”
• “Fire staff must stay on duty all night.”
• “It is my duty to report the mistake.”

Good to know

on / off duty. a sense of duty. Job = employment; task = one piece of work.

Near in meaning

responsibility

New