obligationob‧li‧ga‧tion /ˌɒbləˈɡeɪʃən $ ˌɑːb-/ ●●○ W3 noun [countable, uncountable] 
America’s obligation to its allies Employers have an obligation to treat all employees equally. Parents are under a legal obligation to educate their children. You are under no obligation to buy any more books. Greater resources are needed to meet these obligations. the rights and obligations imposed on them by treaties The government must pay for health care for war veterans – it is an obligation we owe to them. a moral obligation to help the poor He stayed with the team out of a sense of obligation.COLLOCATIONSverbshave an obligation· Citizens have an obligation to obey the law.feel an obligation· When his mother died, he felt an obligation to continue her work.meet/fulfil/honour an obligation (=do something that you have a duty to do)· The company has been unable to meet its financial obligations.· All member states must fulfil their obligations according to the EC treaty.· The government failed to honour its obligations under the terms of the agreement.impose an obligation formal (=put someone in the position of having an obligation)· A contract imposes certain obligations on employees and employers.owe an obligation to somebody formal (=have an obligation to support, help etc someone)· He owed an obligation of loyalty to his king.an obligation arises formal (=starts to exist)· the obligations arising out of the treatyphrasesbe under an obligation (=have an obligation)· The landlord is under an obligation to repair the house.be under no obligation· An accused man is under no obligation to say anything.a sense of obligation· the sense of obligation that you feel towards your familyadjectivesa moral/legal/social obligation· We have a moral obligation to take care of our environment.a statutory obligation formal (=something that the law says must be done)· The Local Authority has a statutory obligation to provide education.a contractual obligation (=something that a contract says you must do)· The company must refund your money in line with their contractual obligations.a binding obligation (=something that you must legally do, especially because of an agreement)· These clauses are legally binding obligations on both parties.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Alvin Sharpes stiffened, torn by conflicting obligations.
- But without the obligation to show current affairs in peak time, it may be pushed into a less attractive slot.
- Fathers mildly lit on Friday nights, at ease with these immeasurable obligations.
- Poor rates mounted, and many magistrates and overseers continued their moral obligations but in a spirit of growing hopelessness.
- There is no obligation on the suspect to answer questions.
- This section lists long-term debt owed to banks or other creditors and any obligations under capital leases.
- We will meet our international obligations to reduce harmful chimney emissions.
Longman Language Activatorwhen you do not have to do something
if you do not have to do something, you can do it if you want, but you are not forced to do it, either by a rule or by another person, or by the situation you are in: · Paola was fortunate in that she came from a wealthy family and didn't have to work.· You don't have to go if you don't want to.
spoken say this to tell someone that it is not necessary for them to do something: · There's no need to do the dishes - I'll do them in the morning.there's no need for somebody to do something: · There's no need for you to bring any food - it's all being provided.
if something is unnecessary or not necessary , it is not needed or there is no good reason for you to do it: · They want to build another shopping mall here, but we think it's completely unnecessary.it is unnecessary/not necessary to do something: · It's not necessary to wash your hair every day.
to not have to do something, because it is not necessary: · You don't need to tell Sandy - she already knows.· You needn't come with me - I can find my own way to the station.· Marian was one of those lucky students who didn't need to work hard to do well.
to not have to do something if you do not want to, especially in a situation where you might feel that you have to because other people will be upset or disappointed if you do not: · The firm is under no obligation to offer you a job.not be under any obligation to do something: · You are not under any obligation to buy anything.
if something is optional , you do not have to do it or use it but you can if you want to: · You don't have to do French - it's optional.· The holiday price includes entertainment in the evenings, and there are optional excursions on offer every day.optional for: · General Studies is optional for sixth-form students.
a voluntary activity is one that you do because you want to do it, especially because you believe it is useful or will help other people, and not because you have to: · The council is trying to get more young people involved in doing voluntary work.· We get all our money from voluntary contributions.
when a rule or law forces you to do something · All competitors must arrive by 10:00 a.m.· All visitors have to sign in at the main reception desk.· I'm not sure what the procedure is -- you might have to make a written complaint.must/have to · I don't want to get rid of the animals, but we have to.
formal to have to do something, because of a legal or professional rule: · Doctors are obliged by law to try to keep their patients alive.· Members of parliament are obliged to declare all their financial interests.
formal to have to do something - used especially in written notices and official documents: · Visitors are required to register their names on arrival.· Under the law the President is required to notify Congress when US troops are likely to be involved in hostilities.· Companies are legally required to keep records of all their financial transactions.
to have to do something because it is the duty of someone in your position to do it, or because you have officially agreed to do it: · Anyone who rents a house is under an obligation to keep it clean and tidy.· Having promised to cut taxes, the government now has an obligation to do so.
something that is compulsory must be done, used, or provided because of a rule or law: · Smoke detectors are compulsory in all new buildings.· Compulsory education (=when all children have to go to school) was introduced in 1870.compulsory for: · Maths and English are compulsory for all students.it is compulsory (for somebody) to do something: · It is now compulsory for anyone claiming state benefit to register with a job centre.
something that is mandatory must be done because of the law: · Drug smuggling carries a mandatory death sentence.mandatory for: · In some countries, wearing helmets is mandatory for all cyclists.
something that is obligatory must be done because of a rule or law, or because it is expected that you will do it: · Evening dress is usual, but not obligatory.obligatory for: · Military service is obligatory for all men between 18 and 27.it is obligatory (for somebody) to do something: · It is now obligatory for all competitors to wear face protectors.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs Tutors have a contractual obligation to research and publish. The trustees failed to discharge their duties properly. Britain was accused of failing to fulfil its obligations under the EU Treaty. Much of the electrical equipment failed to fulfill safety requirements. parents who shirk their responsibilities towards their childrenCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
a moral or legal duty to do somethingobligation to· Citizens have an obligation to obey the law.
· When his mother died, he felt an obligation to continue her work.
(=do something that you have a duty to do)· The company has been unable to meet its financial obligations.· All member states must fulfil their obligations according to the EC treaty.· The government failed to honour its obligations under the terms of the agreement.
formal (=put someone in the position of having an obligation)· A contract imposes certain obligations on employees and employers.
formal (=have an obligation to support, help etc someone)· He owed an obligation of loyalty to his king.
formal (=starts to exist)· the obligations arising out of the treaty
phrases (=have an obligation)· The landlord is under an obligation to repair the house.
· An accused man is under no obligation to say anything.
· the sense of obligation that you feel towards your family
adjectives· We have a moral obligation to take care of our environment.
formal (=something that the law says must be done)· The Local Authority has a statutory obligation to provide education.
(=something that a contract says you must do)· The company must refund your money in line with their contractual obligations.
(=something that you must legally do, especially because of an agreement)· These clauses are legally binding obligations on both parties.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Tutors have a contractual obligation to research and publish. The trustees failed to discharge their duties properly. Britain was accused of failing to fulfil its obligations under the EU Treaty. Much of the electrical equipment failed to fulfill safety requirements. (=something you must do for moral reasons)· If you have a pet, you have a moral obligation to take care of it.
(=to have a duty to do something)· Citizens have an obligation to obey the law.
parents who shirk their responsibilities towards their children· Gregory claimed that Tours was free not only from taxation, but also from certain military obligations.· The law of reciprocity implies certain positive obligations in virtue of its very form.· But I feel a certain obligation to make amends.· You don't seem to realize that you have certain obligations to me, a certain loyalty owing to me.· First it denies it the right to impose certain obligations, denies that some laws if enacted will be binding.· A contract gives both an employee and an employer certain rights and obligations.
· The obligations of the professional librarian Members must fulfil to the best of their ability the contractual obligations owed to their employer.· All across the country I found promoters who were not willing to meet their contractual obligations.· A contractual obligation, such as an exchange rule gives rise on the face of it to strict liability.· Can an employee handbook serve as a basis for contractual obligation?· Similarly, a requirement that the expert observe the rules of natural justice could be made a contractual obligation.· At that point, stars and studios fulfill their initial contractual obligation and are free to negotiate with other parties.· But Virgin executives are privately convinced that meeting this contractual obligation will be impossible because so many major issues remain unresolved.· In Washington, for example, a teacher was discharged from his contractual obligation because of his deteriorating eyesight.
· Such personal guarantees become effective if and when the company itself can not meet its financial obligations.· But federal workers and private contractors not being paid are frightened about failing to meet mortgage and other financial obligations.· The full financial obligations of an assisted party will, inevitably, depend upon the outcome of the case.· Simpson will not be able to discharge his financial obligations to the victims' families by claiming bankruptcy.· It's not that Novell has any moral or financial obligation to be the keeper of the Unix flame.· Off-balance sheet financing is a term used to describe techniques designed to obscure a company's true financial obligations.
· In order to achieve these objectives, the Convention contains several general obligations.· Virginia -- $ 119. 4 million of Series 1996 general obligation refunding bonds, via competitive bid.· But there is no such general obligation for critical indulgence.· A general obligation bond is repaid through property taxes.· The point of a general damnatio was to impose on the heir a general obligation to pay the legacies left.· Items one through seven on the May 20 ballot are general obligation bonds.· Extraordinary revenues derived from the general obligation of the King's subjects to aid him in times of emergency.· Chicago -- $ 308 million of general obligation refunding bonds, via a Lehman Brothers group.
· We will meet our international obligations to reduce harmful chimney emissions.· They will, in conformity with domestic law and international obligations, continue to take effective measures to this end. 31.· Enlargement to the East will take place in a restrictive framework of international rules and obligations.· The requirements for State responsibility for an international wrongful act are breach of an international obligation which is attributable to the State.
· Once again the problem is that it is not evident that the testator intended a legal obligation to be created.· The registry is largely symbolic and confers none of the legal rights and obligations of marriage.· The council had no legal obligation to buy back the property and previous repurchases were virtually unheard of.· Whether there is a legal obligation is a question for the judge: Mainwaring.· The children themselves were not present at the Hearing, as they had a legal obligation to be.· Local authorities need comprehensive and coherent policies to meet both these demands and their minimum legal obligations.· An objection to this argument is that a legal obligation is not a necessary condition for a liability.· As soon as possible afterwards, the existing legal obligations on landlords in regard to repair and maintenance should be put into full force again.
· After all, you're under no moral obligation to them.· University officials have displayed no sense of moral obligation toward a female student cast aside in the rush to pander to Phillips.· Although there was no legal compulsion, the moral obligation to pay was strong.· But what would transform it from an externally enforced to a moral obligation?· But it is an argument for the quite different model of moral obligation which I have suggested in this section.· From Raymond Williams I learnt the political and moral consequences and obligations of being educated away from the life you were born into.· It's not that Novell has any moral or financial obligation to be the keeper of the Unix flame.· Not every agreement is such, even though it may constitute a moral obligation.
· Essentially this is a personal, professional obligation, inherent in membership of the Institute, rather than a closely policed one.· Parducci considered the story a good literary piece and believed she had a professional obligation to teach it.· On the other hand, every teacher has a professional obligation to understand the key conversations going on in the research community.
· Critics fear money will oust quality Georgina Henry reports on doubts over programme standards, public service obligations and controls on ownership.· Broadcasters have been living up to public service obligations since 1934.· If the public service obligation grant is substantially reduced, will not there be an inevitable increase in dissatisfaction with customer service?
· Gandhi interprets his progression to the third stage of life as an extension of his social obligations.· Sharing information and advancing the work are the only real social obligations.· But the letter, a social obligation too promptly performed, had lacked conviction.· A man had a responsibility to meet his social obligations on time.· That should suffice for her social obligations, she felt.· But there was no escaping the social obligation.· Biology seems to be the foundation of social obligation most obviously in the case of parents and children.· There is no social obligation to obey the law.
· He said that the police had a statutory obligation for public safety.· Albert is under a statutory obligation to repair the structure.· It imposes statutory obligations on employers to set down and implement policy to safeguard the health and safety of their employees.· Line managers are responsible for health and safety and have a duty to implement statutory obligations and group and local policies.· In many of the cases arising out of homelessness, local authorities have sought to interpret their statutory obligations narrowly.· The local authority increase in manpower, particularly ancillary and health workers, could largely be explained by such statutory obligations.· There was, however, no statutory obligation upon the Council to produce one.
NOUN· One analysis is that a party to the Protocol has agreed to accept some treaty obligations.· Since these include the pacta tertiis rule, a precondition of Statehood can not be the acceptance of third party treaty obligations.
VERB· One analysis is that a party to the Protocol has agreed to accept some treaty obligations.· If we do believe in what we say, then we should accept the obligations this entails.· The corollary is that they have accepted a range of obligations to provide support for non-household kin.· The United States can not accept such an obligation.· But no Government could accept an obligation to use taxpayers' money to make good all losses resulting from fraud.· The Administration accepted the obligation with respect to pregnant women.· Article 35 requires a third party to accept an obligation in writing.· He further accepts that the obligations of the original lessee and an assignee are not joint.
· But the judge was prepared to award a declaration that the government had not complied with their obligation to consult.
· Problems of political obligation can only be overcome by participatory political associations which would allow citizens to create their own political obligations.· The governor, a political being, still appoints judges and creates political obligations thereby.· Goods/services are supplied by the seller to the buyer, thus creating an obligation to pay a sum of money.· Lever was accustomed to the use of gifts in business to create obligations.· Much of medicine is uncertain, and the admission of that uncertainty creates the obligation to research the matter further.· Such a request fell far short of creating a civil-law obligation to do so.· Article 34 restates the basic rule: a treaty creates neither obligations nor rights for a third State without its consent.
· Therefore this section can not catch clauses which define the obligations to be performed under the contract in a restrictive way.
· The need for those new lines to discharge that obligation will be considered by the inquiry.· In Washington, for example, a teacher was discharged from his contractual obligation because of his deteriorating eyesight.· Simpson will not be able to discharge his financial obligations to the victims' families by claiming bankruptcy.
· The recipient feels no obligation, or sense of charity, in a market exchange.· The national government felt no legal obligation to protect antislavery activists and, in truth, reacted indifferently to attacks upon them.· The owner of a large concern may well feel an obligation to find a position in his firm for a hard-up cousin.· While the media is filled with stories about Viagra, Williams stresses that no one should feel an obligation to use it.· She says she didn't feel under any obligation to ask his permission.· He feels an obligation to make something of it.· It was degrading even to contemplate that she would feel an obligation towards him.· It provides a feeling of ownership and obligation that was missing before.
· It must, therefore, ensure that it has the means within its membership to fulfil this inescapable obligation.· It is Ego which drives us to be dutiful and fulfil false obligations.· More importantly, will the employer adequately fulfil his obligation to complete the educational process by producing sound technicians and businessmen?· It reported in mid-1861, but suggested only that the peasantry of the western provinces fulfil their obligations in cash rather than labour.· The question mark at the end requires a response, helping the offended party to fulfil their scriptural obligation to forgive.· But even if a school fulfils its legal obligations there will be some parents who will remain dissatisfied.
· At that point, stars and studios fulfill their initial contractual obligation and are free to negotiate with other parties.· I told myself that I resented having to fulfill my obligations in this way.· He also said broadcasters unwilling to provide educational programming could fulfill the obligation instead by supporting public broadcasting networks.
· When the law imposes obligations it does so by seeking to balance conflicting claims.· Neither imposes an obligation to worry about the welfare of the other.· Its purpose is to impose an obligation upon Norwich to secure that Winchester complies with the Rules.· Although the Benedictine rule imposed specific obligations upon each individual, it was rarely severe to the point of austerity.· The implied term imposing an obligation on the employee after the termination of his employment was more restricted.· Note that the court can only impose an obligation on a responsible person with that person's consent.· It imposes statutory obligations on employers to set down and implement policy to safeguard the health and safety of their employees.· These laws impose obligations on citizens, and obedience to these obligations is enforced by the courts.
· The most often invoked argument to that effect relies on an obligation to support and maintain just institutions.· This obligation to maintain visiting embassies was a mutual one, however.· Throughout the period policy makers and social investigators were anxious that husbands should fulfil their obligation to maintain dependent wives and children.
· Such personal guarantees become effective if and when the company itself can not meet its financial obligations.· To sustain the boomers while meeting its other obligations, the government will have to borrow vast amounts of money.· We will meet our international obligations to reduce harmful chimney emissions.· A man had a responsibility to meet his social obligations on time.· A company showing a profit in the accounts may suddenly be unable to meet its current obligations.· N., meet our obligations and continue to spur real progress.· Congress recently acted to deny trade preferences to countries that fail to meet their legal obligations to end such abusive child labor.· Short-term liquidity refers to the ability of the firm to meet its current obligations as they fall due.
· Citizens have an obligation to obey law by virtue of the fact that it is made in accordance with established procedures.· There is no social obligation to obey the law.· The basic limitation on the obligation to obey the state arose from the fundamental purpose of the state.· It has, in fact, been argued that he has greater obligation to obey because of his participation.· But an obligation to obey the law as it is understood in political writings today is a mere primafacie obligation.· Is there a primafacie obligation to obey the law which transcends the limits of the state's authority?· It may entail an obligation to obey certain of the more politically sensitive laws.· I will postpone consideration of the obligation to obey the law until the last section of this chapter.
· Fiduciaries would also owe similar obligations.
· Although there was no legal compulsion, the moral obligation to pay was strong.· So, for example, the buyer is under no obligation to pay.· The point of a general damnatio was to impose on the heir a general obligation to pay the legacies left.· But a man is under a moral and legal obligation to pay his just debts.· Goods/services are supplied by the seller to the buyer, thus creating an obligation to pay a sum of money.· In particular the customer can restore the goods to the shelf and will be under no obligation to pay for them.· For this purpose, expenditure is treated as incurred when the obligation to pay for the asset becomes unconditional.· However, the obligation to pay interest is an obligation to transfer economic benefits and hence the instrument is a liability.
· In return the purchaser will undertake to perform the vendor's obligations under such contract.· Mr Danskin and Mr Smith entered with the air of men performing a mildly disagreeable obligation.
· Article 2 imposes on the state an obligation to protect the right to life.· The national government felt no legal obligation to protect antislavery activists and, in truth, reacted indifferently to attacks upon them.· At the very least, they have an obligation to protect their populations from practices that may adversely affect their health.· Under the interests theory, obligations arise in order to protect economic liberty, not curtail it.
· Where the wife was the erring partner, the husband could seek freedom from the obligation to provide such support.· Yet, ratings agencies count the obligation as equity, providing an advantage over traditional debt.· The corollary is that they have accepted a range of obligations to provide support for non-household kin.· The obligation to provide such a service should rest, it was said, with the local authority.· The primary obligation was plainly to provide personal treatment, though that obligation was subject to limited qualifications.· Testing complicates the issue of fulfilment of the employers' obligations to provide jobs to successful Compact graduates.
America’s obligation to its allies Employers have an obligation to treat all employees equally. Parents are under a legal obligation to educate their children. You are under no obligation to buy any more books. Greater resources are needed to meet these obligations. the rights and obligations imposed on them by treaties The government must pay for health care for war veterans – it is an obligation we owe to them. a moral obligation to help the poor He stayed with the team out of a sense of obligation.COLLOCATIONSverbshave an obligation· Citizens have an obligation to obey the law.feel an obligation· When his mother died, he felt an obligation to continue her work.meet/fulfil/honour an obligation (=do something that you have a duty to do)· The company has been unable to meet its financial obligations.· All member states must fulfil their obligations according to the EC treaty.· The government failed to honour its obligations under the terms of the agreement.impose an obligation formal (=put someone in the position of having an obligation)· A contract imposes certain obligations on employees and employers.owe an obligation to somebody formal (=have an obligation to support, help etc someone)· He owed an obligation of loyalty to his king.an obligation arises formal (=starts to exist)· the obligations arising out of the treatyphrasesbe under an obligation (=have an obligation)· The landlord is under an obligation to repair the house.be under no obligation· An accused man is under no obligation to say anything.a sense of obligation· the sense of obligation that you feel towards your familyadjectivesa moral/legal/social obligation· We have a moral obligation to take care of our environment.a statutory obligation formal (=something that the law says must be done)· The Local Authority has a statutory obligation to provide education.a contractual obligation (=something that a contract says you must do)· The company must refund your money in line with their contractual obligations.a binding obligation (=something that you must legally do, especially because of an agreement)· These clauses are legally binding obligations on both parties.