liability

From liable +‎ -ity.

• IPA^(key): /laɪəˈbɪlɪti/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: li‧abil‧ity

liability (countable and uncountable, plural liabilities)

1. An obligation, debt or responsibility owed to someone.

   Coordinate term: asset

   • 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw:

     "I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim all responsibility," continued the other. "They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."

   1. (accounting) Any item recorded on the right-hand side of a balance sheet.

      Antonym: asset

2. A handicap that holds something back, a drawback, someone or something that is a burden to whoever is required to take care of them; a person or action that exposes others to greater risk.

   Coordinate term: asset

   • 2016 January 31, “Is Huma Abedin Hillary Clinton’s Secret Weapon or Her Next Big Problem?”, in Vanity Fair‎:

     Asked if at some point Huma becomes a liability to Hillary, the long-term Clinton insider replies, “It’s like anything else. I don’t think so, but you know I don’t have any idea. Hillary is very loyal, but she’s obviously pragmatic.”

   1. (informal, mildly derogatory) A person on a team that is more of a hindrance than a help.

      You're a bloody liability sometimes!

3. The likelihood of something happening.
4. The condition of being susceptible to something.

• alibility