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liability

liability

95 5.7
A person or thing that causes problems or puts someone at a disadvantage
  • noun
  • /ˌlaɪəˈbɪlɪti/
translation icon : lastre
  • In our team meetings, her negative attitude was often seen as a liability that hindered progress.
  • become a liability
  • viewed as a liability
  • a political liability

That is kind of fallible thinking and a huge liability.

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Examples

  • However, a boss who cannot see the future becomes a liability to everyone concerned.

  • A question of holding his own then, not being a liability, not making dumb mistakes, playing tough D.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Could it be a liability instead of an asset?

  • Not only is it wrong, but it's just like it opens them up to personal liability in a huge huge way.

  • My whole life, those things were a liability.

  • Yeah, Dad used to think I'd be a political liability... ...you know, in case he ever ran for president.

  • The same applies to other drivers, who are a major liability to the safety and lives of other drivers.

    Academic text (2017)
  • At least with the benefit or liability of hindsight, such seems to be the case.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • As a businessman, you gotta limit your liabilities.

  • In spite of these external and internal liabilities, political and economic cooperation expanded.

    Academic text (1992)

Antonyms

2.8

Something that helps a person do better than others

770 3.5

A useful quality, skill, or person that helps someone succeed

Compounds

tax liability
  • Specialized
10 5.1

Total amount of tax a person or business must pay to the government

liability insurance
  • Specialized
6 3.7

A plan that pays money when you hurt other people or damage their things

limited liability
  • Specialized
4 4.4

Owners are responsible for a company's debts only up to the money they invested

2 6.5

Someone or something that may cause harm in the future

contingent liability
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A possible future payment a business may have to make if an event happens

short-term liability
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A debt that must be paid within one year

5.6

The most money an insurance company will pay for a covered claim

5.9

Two or more people are each responsible for the same debt and may have to pay it

How Disadvantageous

liability
95 5.7
handicap
17 4.1
drawback
50 3.4

Surface Forms

liability singular
liabilities plural

Morphology

liability = liable (semi-transparent) = liable + ity

Morphologically regular formation, but the sense 'disadvantage' is a semantic extension/metaphorical shift from legal/likelihood senses and may not be directly inferable by all learners.

Etymology

Liability originally meant 'something that binds' you, so it came to mean a 'burden' or thing that holds you back. That's why a personal fault can be a liability at work — it makes things harder for you.