obligation
/ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: obligations
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
Noun
Examples
I feel I'm under obligation to attend my sister's wedding, even though we have a very frosty relationship.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “obligation” mean?
The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
Is “obligation” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.