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Onus: meaning, definitions and examples

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onus

 

[ ˈoʊnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

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

burden, duty, responsibility

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.
Context #2 | Noun

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

Etymology

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.

See also: on, onward.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,762, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.