obligation

Definition of obligation

Etymology

From Latin obligatio, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- to + ligare to bind, from Proto-Indo-European *leig- ("to bind").

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃǝn

Noun

obligation (plural obligations)

1. The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
2. A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
3. A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
4. (law) A legal agreement stipulating a specified payment or action; the document containing such agreement.
   
   X shall be entitled to subcontract its obligation to provide the Support Services. <<from an agreement>>

Related terms

• obligate
• obligated
• obligational
• obligato
• obligatorily
• oblige
• obligee
• obliger
• obliging
• obligingly
• obligingness
• obligor

References:

1. Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.