obligation

Meaning

Noun

• The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
• A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
• A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
• A legal agreement stipulating a specified action or forbearance by a party to the agreement; the document containing such agreement.

Related

Similar words

• commitment
• duty

Opposite words

• right

Origin

• From Middle English obligacioun, from Old French obligacion, from Latin obligatio, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- + ligare, from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- ("to bind").