Introductory descriptions of responsibility in Philosophy Encyclopedias:

„When a person performs or fails to perform a morally significant action, we sometimes think that a particular kind of
response is warranted. Praise and blame are perhaps the most obvious forms this reaction might take. For example,
one who encounters a car accident may be regarded as worthy of praise for having saved a child from inside the
burning car, or alternatively, one may be regarded as worthy of blame for not having used one's mobile phone to call
for help. To regard such agents as worthy of one of these reactions is to regard them as responsible for what they
have done or left undone. (These are examples of other-directed ascriptions of responsibility. The reaction might also
be self-directed, e.g., one can recognize oneself to be blameworthy). Thus, to be morally responsible for something,
say an action, is to be worthy of a particular kind of reaction—praise, blame, or something akin to these—for having
performed it.“
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Lemma „Moral Responsibility“, excerpt

„The notion of collective responsibility, like that of personal responsibility and shared responsibility, refers to both the
causal responsibility of moral agents for harm in the world and the blameworthiness that we ascribe to them for
having caused such harm. Hence, it is, like its two more purely individualistic counterparts, almost always a notion of
moral, rather than purely causal, responsibility.“
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Lemma „Collective Responsibility“, excerpt

„We evaluate people and groups as responsible or not, depending on how seriously they take their responsibilities.
Often we do this informally, via moral judgment. Sometimes we do this formally, for instance in legal judgment. This
article considers mainly moral responsibility, and focuses largely upon individuals. Later sections also comment on the
relation between legal and moral responsibility, and on the responsibility of collectives.
The article discusses four different areas of individual moral responsibility: (1) Responsible agency, whereby a person
is regarded as a normal moral agent; (2) Retrospective responsibility, when a person is judged for her actions, for
instance, in being blamed or punished; (3) Prospective responsibility, for instance, the responsibilities attaching to a
particular role; and (4) Responsibility as a virtue, when we praise a person as being responsible. Philosophical dis-
cussion of responsibility has focused largely on (1) and (2). The article points out that a wider view of responsibility
helps explore some connections between moral and legal responsibility, and between individual and collective
responsibility. It also enables us to relate responsibility to its original philosophical use, which was in political thought.“
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Lemma „Responsibility“, excerpt

„The notion of responsibility is vexed, both conceptually and metaphysically. It is invoked in a bewildering variety of
contexts, and in many of those contexts its very possibility is questioned. Ordinary language is not of much help:
people can be responsible, become responsible, and be held responsible; they can have responsibilities, claim
responsibility, take responsibility – and the list of verbs goes on. Our “modern scientific worldview” is often thought
to undermine responsibility, yet we regret that politicians and teenagers don't take it more seriously. It is, like most
philosophically interesting concepts, remarkably easy to use but dreadfully difficult to understand.“

Tognazzini, Neal, in: The International Encyclopedia of Ethics, Lemma: „Responsibility“, excerpt

Definitions of „Responsibility“ in Dictionaries:

British Dictionary:
1. the state or position of being responsible
2. a person or thing for which one is responsible
3. the ability or authority to act or decide on one's own, without supervision

Merriam Webster’ Learner’s Dictionary:

1. the state of being the person who caused something to happen
2. a duty or task that you are required or expected to do
3. something that you should do because it is morally right, legally required, etc.
Oxford Dictionary:
1. The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. (‘women
bear children and take responsibility for childcare’)
2. The state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something. (‘the group has claimed responsibility
for a string of murders’)
2.1[in singular] A moral obligation to behave correctly towards or in respect of. (‘individuals have a
responsibility to control their behaviour’)
3. The opportunity or ability to act independently and take decisions without authorization. (‘we expect
individuals to take on more responsibility’)
3.1[count noun] A thing which one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation. (‘he will
take over the responsibilities of Overseas Director’)

Business Dictionary:
A duty or obligation to satisfactorily perform or complete a task (assigned by someone, or created by one's own
promise or circumstances) that one must fulfill, and which has a consequent penalty for failure.

Cambridge Dictionary:
something that it is your job or duty to deal with
> have responsibility: to be in a position of authority over someone and to have a duty to make certain that particular
things are done
> have a responsibility to somebody: to have a duty to work for or help someone who is in a position of authority
over you

Vocabulary.com Dictionary:
1. the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
2. a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being
responsible for one's conduct
3. the proper sphere or extent of your activities

Collins English Dictionary

1. the state or position of being responsible
2. a person or thing for which one is responsible
3. the ability or authority to act or decide on one's own, without supervision

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006,
2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary

1. the state, fact, or quality of being responsible.
2. an instance of being responsible: The responsibility for this mess is yours!
3. a particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible: the responsibilities of authority.
4. a person or thing for which one is responsible.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

1. The obligation to carry forward an assigned task to a successful conclusion. With responsibility goes
authority to direct and take the necessary action to ensure success.
2. The obligation for the proper custody, care, and safekeeping of property or funds entrusted to the
possession or supervision of an individual. See also accountability.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.