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Added 9 October 2026

liable

/ˈlaɪ̯əbəl/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsUncommon Words

In Latin: obnoxius Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about liable at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. At risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant.
    he is apt to lose
  2. Subject to legal action.
    liable to criminal charges
  3. (often followed by `to') likely to be affected with.
    liable to diabetes

Origin

From Old French lier (“to bind”), from Latin ligō, ligāre (“to bind, to tie”). Compare typologically Russian обя́занный (objázannyj), обяза́тельный (objazátelʹnyj) (akin to вяза́ть (vjazátʹ)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: responsibleaptlikelysusceptibleunresistantnonresistantnonimmunenonexemptresponsibilityaccountableaccountabilityanswerable

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