Onus: meaning, definitions and examples
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onus
[ ˈoʊnəs ]
legal responsibility
A burden or responsibility that someone is required to bear. It is often used in legal contexts to refer to a duty or obligation placed on a person.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The onus is on the prosecution to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- The onus of maintaining the property falls on the landlord.
blame or obligation
The blame or obligation placed on someone for a particular situation or action. It can also refer to the weight of proof in a legal case.
Synonyms
blame, obligation, responsibility
Examples of usage
- She felt the onus of her team's failure rested on her shoulders.
- The onus of explaining the discrepancies falls on the accountant.
Translations
Translations of the word "onus" in other languages:
🇵🇹 ônus
🇮🇳 दायित्व
🇩🇪 Bürde
🇮🇩 beban
🇺🇦 тягар
🇵🇱 ciężar
🇯🇵 負担
🇫🇷 fardeau
🇪🇸 carga
🇹🇷 yük
🇰🇷 무거운 짐
🇸🇦 عبء
🇨🇿 břemeno
🇸🇰 bremeno
🇨🇳 负担
🇸🇮 breme
🇮🇸 byrði
🇰🇿 жүк
🇬🇪 ტვირთი
🇦🇿 yük
🇲🇽 carga
Word origin
The word 'onus' originated from Latin, where it means 'burden' or 'load'. It entered English in the mid-17th century and has been used primarily in legal and formal contexts to describe a responsibility or obligation placed on someone. The term has retained its original meaning of burden or duty throughout its history.