Staff must report for duty at their normal place of work.
My duty is to look after the animals.
Synonyms: responsibility, job, task, work More Synonyms of duty
2. plural noun
Your duties are tasks which you have to do because they are part of your job.
I carried out my duties conscientiously.
He was relieved of his duties as presidential adviser.
3. singular noun [oft with poss]
If you say that something is your duty, you believe that you ought to do it because it is your responsibility.
I consider it my duty to write to you and thank you.
4. variable noun
Duties are taxes which you pay to the government on goods that you buy.
Import duties still average 30%.
...customs duties.
They are pressing the Chancellor to reduce excise duty on beer.
5.
See off duty, on duty
More Synonyms of duty
duty in British English
(ˈdjuːtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
a task or action that a person is bound to perform for moral or legal reasons
2.
respect or obedience due to a superior, older persons, etc
filial duty
3.
the force that binds one morally or legally to one's obligations
4.
a government tax, esp on imports
5. British
a.
the quantity or intensity of work for which a machine is designed
b.
a measure of the efficiency of a machine
6.
the quantity of water necessary to irrigate an area of land to grow a particular crop
7.
a.
a job or service allocated
b.
(as modifier)
duty rota
8. do duty for
9. off duty
10. on duty
Word origin
C13: from Anglo-French dueté, from Old French deudue
duty in American English
(ˈduti; ˈdjuti)
nounWord forms: pluralˈduties
1.
the obedience or respect that one should show toward one's parents, older people, etc.
2.
conduct based on moral or legal obligation, or a sense of propriety
one's duty to vote
3.
any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one's occupation or position
the duties of a secretary
4.
a sense or feeling of obligation
duty calls
5.
service, esp. military service
overseas duty
6.
a payment due to the government, esp. a tax imposed on imports, exports, or manufactured goods
7. British
the performance of a machine as measured by the output of work per unit of fuel
8.
the amount of work that a machine is meant to do; rated efficiency under specifiedconditions
9. US, Agriculture
the amount of water needed for irrigation per acre per crop
: also duty of water
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfunction
Idioms:
do duty for
on (or off) duty
Word origin
ME duete < Anglo-Fr dueté, what is due (owing): see due & -ty1
duty in Retail
(duti)
noun
(Retail: Supplier accounts)
Duty is a government tax added to the cost of a certain category of goods, such as alcohol, tobacco, or imports and exports.
Most countries charge customs duties and tax on items shipped from the U. S.
Customs duty is a tax on the importation and exportation of goods.
Duty is a government tax added to the cost of a certain category of goods, such as alcohol,tobacco, or imports and exports.
duty-free
Examples of 'duty' in a sentence
duty
Measures that could be announced next week include a reduction in air passenger duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They would allow manufacturers on site to import and export without paying any duty and customs charges.
The Sun (2016)
Ideally they wish to buy six or more properties in one transaction to avoid high residential stamp duty charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The government has a duty to protect the most vulnerable in our society and to act in the public interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Bedfordshire police confirmed that four of the officers involved were still on full working duty while the fifth had retired.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As we report today, the amount of excise duty paid has dropped.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The association said a 17 per cent cut in beer duty in recent years had helped growth.
The Sun (2016)
They would learn about personal responsibility, duty and mindset.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Recently I tried to explain this sacred bond of royal duty to one such American.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Last night both were suspended from duty as their force probed the claims.
The Sun (2008)
Those who handle goods on which no excise duty has been paid could also be fined.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Lower fuel duty to reduce consumer costs and we can all breath a sigh of relief.
The Sun (2008)
Many church board members are unaware of the fiduciary duties they owe to the church.
Christianity Today (2000)
Doctors will be feeling the wind of change blowing through other areas of their duties.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There is possibly no tax as emotive as stamp duty land tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Such buyers will remain eligible to pay stamp duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The latter is the first duty of any government.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That fully satisfied the duty to take due steps to take account of the disability.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Usually the duty on beer brewed in one month is paid in the following month.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Where is your duty of responsibility in this?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Then four resumed normal duties while three continued searching.
The Sun (2009)
Training activities aim at improving the skills needed to perform current job duties effectively.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Mars is on duty in the part of your chart that deals with money.
The Sun (2014)
They have a duty of care towards the people in their homes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Only then are they placed on regular duty with a particular member.
Brian Hoey AT HOME WITH THE QUEEN: The Inside Story of the Royal Household (2002)
And they warned high fuel duty would force up food costs.
The Sun (2008)
Officials will now decide what levy of excise duty should apply to them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The staff is made up of civilian and military nurses and they care for soldiers alongside their duties nursing the public.
The Sun (2008)
This was one of my duties.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
The report also cites visa controls, air passenger duty and regulatory burdens as barriers to growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You will have to pay 0.5% stamp duty though.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Trouble is, injuries and international duty leave him depleted.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The control of air passenger duty and some benefit payments will also be passed to Holyrood.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Quotations
Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powersHenri Frédéric AmielJournal
Without duty, life is soft and boneless; it cannot hold itself togetherJoseph JoubertPensées
When a stupid man is doing something that he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his dutyGeorge Bernard ShawCaesar and Cleopatra
Do your duty, and leave the outcome to the GodsPierre CorneilleHorace
England expects that every man will do his dutyHoratio Nelsonsignal at the Battle of Trafalgar
Duty, honour! We make these words say whatever we want, the same as we do with parrotsAlfred CapusMariage Bourgeois
In other languages
duty
British English: duty /ˈdjuːtɪ/ NOUN
Duty is the work that you have to do as your job.
Staff must report for duty at their normal place of work.
American English: duty
Arabic: وَاجِب
Brazilian Portuguese: dever
Chinese: 关税
Croatian: dužnost
Czech: povinnost
Danish: pligt
Dutch: plicht
European Spanish: deber
Finnish: velvollisuus
French: devoir
German: Pflicht
Greek: καθήκον
Italian: dovere
Japanese: 任務
Korean: 임무
Norwegian: plikt
Polish: obowiązek
European Portuguese: dever
Romanian: atribuție
Russian: долг
Latin American Spanish: deber responsabilidad
Swedish: plikt
Thai: หน้าที่
Turkish: görev
Ukrainian: обов'язок
Vietnamese: nghĩa vụ
All related terms of 'duty'
on duty
at work
duty call
a visit made for reasons of obligation rather than for social reasons
duty-free
Duty-free goods are sold at airports or on planes or ships at a cheaper price than usual because you do not have to pay import tax on them.
duty paid
on which duty has been paid
feu duty
a fixed annual payment granting the right to the use of land
join duty
to report for work after a period of leave or a strike
jury duty
civic duty to serve on a jury
off duty
When someone such as a soldier or police officer is off-duty , they are not working.
active duty
Active duty means the same as → active service .
combat duty
active service
death duty
a tax on property inheritances : in Britain, replaced in 1975 by capital transfer tax and since 1986 by inheritance tax
dinner duty
→ to be on dinner duty
duty-bound
If you say you are duty-bound to do something, you are emphasizing that you feel it is your duty to do it.
duty-frees
goods sold in a duty-free shop
escort duty
a military duty in which one or more servicemen accompany a person, group of people, or vehicle, for protection , guidance , restraint , or as a mark of honour
estate duty
a tax on property inheritances : in Britain , replaced in 1975 by capital transfer tax and since 1986 by inheritance tax
export duty
a government tax paid on goods exported from a country
guard duty
the work of guarding a place or person
heavy-duty
A heavy-duty piece of equipment is very strong and can be used a lot .
import duty
a tax or duty imposed on imported goods
legacy duty
estate tax; inheritance tax
picket duty
the activity of standing outside an establishment to make a protest , to dissuade or prevent employees or clients from entering, etc
point duty
the stationing of a police officer or traffic warden at a road junction to control and direct traffic
sentry duty
the duty of serving as a sentry
stamp duty
In Britain , stamp duty is a tax that you pay to the government when you buy a house .
bounden duty
duty one has a moral obligation to perform
customs duty
a tax payable to customs when importing or exporting goods
duty chemist
a dispensing chemist's that is open to the public for a specific period when other chemists are closed
duty manager
A duty manager is a person who is in charge at a particular time.
duty officer
an officer (in the armed forces , police , etc) on duty at a particular time
fatigue duty
any of the mainly domestic duties performed by military personnel , esp as a punishment
traffic duty
an assignment to help the flow of traffic and enforce traffic regulations
do duty for
to act as a substitute for
duty of care
the legal obligation to safeguard others from harm while they are in your care , using your services, or exposed to your activities
tour of duty
A soldier's tour of duty is a period of time when the soldier is involved in a particular duty or stationed in a particular place such as a war zone .
duty-free shop
A duty-free shop is a shop, for example at an airport, where you can buy goods at a cheaper price than usual , because no tax is paid on them.
off duty, on duty
If someone such as a police officer or a nurse is off duty , they are not working . If someone is on duty , they are working.
countervailing duty
an extra import duty imposed by a country on certain imports, esp to prevent dumping or to counteract subsidies in the exporting country
duty-free shopping
the making of duty-free purchases
in line of duty
in the performance of authorized or prescribed military duty
on (or off) duty
at (or temporarily relieved from) one's work, duty , etc.
dereliction of duty
Dereliction of duty is deliberate or accidental failure to do what you should do as part of your job .
stamp duty avoidance
Avoidance of someone or something is the act of avoiding them.
active service
Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces.
in the line of duty
If you do something or if it happens to you in the line of duty , you do it or it happens as part of your regular work or as a result of it.
fatigue
Fatigue is a feeling of extreme physical or mental tiredness.
to be on dinner duty
to be responsible for preparing an evening meal
tour
A tour is an organized trip that people such as musicians , politicians , or theatre companies go on to several different places, stopping to meet people or perform.
Chinese translation of 'duty'
duty
(ˈdjuːtɪ)
n(c/u)
(= responsibility) 责(責)任 (zérèn) (个(個), gè)
(= tax) 税(稅) (shuì) (种(種), zhǒng)
it is my duty to ... ... 是我的职(職)责(責) ( ... shì wǒ de zhízé)
to pay duty on sth支付某物的税(稅) (zhīfù mǒuwù de shuì)
to report for duty述职(職) (shùzhí)
to be on/off duty[policeman, nurse]上/下班 (shàng/xiàbān)
Their main job is to preserve health rather than treat illness.
task
He had the unenviable task of breaking the bad news.
work
What kind of work do you do?
calling
He was a serious man, dedicated to his calling as a physician.
business
Parenting can be a stressful business.
service
If a young woman did not have a dowry, she went into domestic service.
office
the honour and dignity of the office of President
charge
I did not consider it any part of my charge to come up with marketing ideas.
role
His role in the events has been pivotal.
function
The main function of merchant banks is to raise capital.
mission
He viewed his mission in life as protecting the weak from evil.
province
Opera remained largely the province of the aristocracy.
obligation
I feel that's my obligation, to do whatever is possible.
assignment
The course involves written assignments and practical tests.
pigeon (informal)
It's a general problem, not our pigeon.
onus
The onus was on the Italians to find a solution.
2 (noun)
Definition
a government tax on imports
Duty on imports would also be reduced.
Synonyms
tax
a cut in tax on new cars
customs
toll
Opponents of motorway tolls say they would force cars onto smaller roads.
levy
an annual motorway levy on all drivers
tariff
America wants to eliminate tariffs on items such as electronics.
excise
Truck drivers will be hit by increases in tax and excise.
due
impost
3 (noun)
Synonyms
loyalty
I have sworn an oath of loyalty to the monarchy.
respect
I have tremendous respect for him.
allegiance
a community driven by strong allegiances
obedience
unquestioning obedience to the law
reverence
in mutual support and reverence for the dead
deference
Out of deference to his feelings, I refrained from commenting.
idiom
See be the duty of or be someone's duty
phrases
See off duty
See on duty
Quotations
Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers [Henri Frédéric Amiel – Journal]Without duty, life is soft and boneless; it cannot hold itself together [Joseph Joubert – Pensées]When a stupid man is doing something that he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty [George Bernard Shaw – Caesar and Cleopatra]Do your duty, and leave the outcome to the Gods [Pierre Corneille – Horace]England expects that every man will do his duty [Horatio Nelson – signal at the Battle of Trafalgar]Duty, honour! We make these words say whatever we want, the same as we do with parrots [Alfred Capus – Mariage Bourgeois]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allegiance
Definition
loyalty or dedication to a person, cause, or belief
a community driven by strong allegiances
Synonyms
loyalty,
duty,
obligation,
devotion,
fidelity,
homage,
obedience,
adherence,
constancy,
faithfulness,
troth (archaic),
fealty
in the sense of assignment
Definition
something that has been assigned, such as a task
The course involves written assignments and practical tests.