Words / B2

ri-SPONS-uh-bl/rɪˈspɒnsəbl/

Responsible means in charge, to blame, or reliable: responsible for the keys; a responsible adult. Responsibility is the noun (already in the dictionary). The exams officer is responsible for the keys. Opposite: irresponsible (already elsewhere). Mix-up: responsive means reacting quickly. Do not write “responsible of”.

Meaning

Having a duty to deal with something; also being the cause of something, or reliable.

Examples

• “The exams officer is responsible for the keys, not the cover supervisor.”
• “A responsible adult must collect the candidate, which is the safeguarding sense.”

Good to know

responsible for / to; a responsible + noun. Noun: responsibility. Opposite: irresponsible. Trap: responsive / “responsible of”. Duty, cause, or trustworthiness.

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