From Middle French responsable, from Old French responsable, responsible, formed from the root of Latin responsus, from respondere.

• (RP) IPA: /ɹɪˈspɒnsəbəl/, [ɹɪˈspɒnsəbl̩]
• (America) IPA: /ɹɪˈspɑnsəbəl/, [ɹɪˈspɑnsəbl̩]

responsible

1. (postpositive, followed by "for") Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.

   Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.

2. (postpositive, followed by "for") Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.

   Who is responsible for this mess?

3. (followed by "to") Answerable to (a superior).
4. (of a, job or position) Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.

   She has a responsible position in the firm.

5. Having good judgment in decision-making.
6. Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.

   He looks like a responsible guy.

7. Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.

• irresponsible

• irresponsible
• respond
• response
• responsibility
• responsibleness
• responsibly

• French: responsable
• German: verantwortlich
• Italian: responsabile
• Portuguese: responsável
• Russian: отве́тственный
• Spanish: responsable

• French: responsable
• German: vernünftig
• Italian: responsabile
• Portuguese: responsável
• Russian: отве́тственный
• Spanish: responsable

• French: responsable
• German: verantwortungsvoll
• Italian: di responsabile, di responsabilità
• Portuguese: responsável
• Russian: отве́тственный
• Spanish: de responsabilidad (locution)

• French: responsable
• German: verantwortlich
• Italian: responsabile, colpevole
• Portuguese: responsável
• Russian: отве́тственный
• Spanish: responsable

• French: responsable
• German: zuverlässig
• Italian: responsabile
• Portuguese: responsável
• Spanish: responsable

responsible (plural responsibles)

1. (archaic) The individual who bears the responsibility for something.
   • 1899, The Harlequin, volume 1, page 12:

     Were this not so, long since would we have traced directly home the responsibility for the war on Freedom in the Philippines. Long since, would we have hanged the responsibles as traitors to our country.

2. (theatre) An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.
   • 1907, The Green Room Book; Or, Who's Who on the Stage, page 9:

     […] first appeared on August Bank Holiday, 1901, at Grand Theatre, Llandudno, playing "responsibles" with Edward Compton; […]

   • 1926, Arthur Machen, Dreads and Drolls:

     'Well, the Cardinal is the heavy part, isn't it?' 'I know.' 'Then,' said I, 'you'd better go'; and one of the Responsibles took it on, and was perfect on the night.

• Italian: responsabile
• Spanish: responsable