obligation
$ \mathrm{obligation}
noun
/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/
1 uncountable the state of being forced to do something because it is your duty, or because of a law, etc.
obligation to do something You are under no obligation to buy anything.
under any/no obligation She did not feel under any obligation to tell him the truth.
I don't want people coming to see me out of a sense of obligation.
without obligation We will send you an estimate for the work without obligation (= you do not have to accept it).
TOPICS Permission and obligation B2
Collocations
adjective
contractuallegalstatutory…
verb + obligation
carry outdischargefulfil/​fulfill…
obligation + verb
arise from something
preposition
under an obligationwithout obligationobligation of…
2 countable something which you must do because you have promised, because of a law, etc.
SYNONYM commitment
legal/professional/financial obligations
They reminded him of his contractual obligations.
The country has promised to comply with its international obligations.
obligation to do something We have a moral obligation to protect the environment.
I have an obligation under law to protect their confidentiality.
obligation on somebody I felt that there was a moral obligation on me to tell the story.
We want to fulfil our obligation to farmers and see they get a fair price.
The company did not have enough money to meet its obligations.
obligation to/toward somebody We have an obligation to our consumers.
TOPICS Permission and obligation B2
Express Yourself Asking about obligation
Word Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘formal promise’): via Old French from Latin obligatio(n-), from the verb obligare, from ob- ‘towards’ + ligare ‘to bind’.