liability

plural liabilities

1. countableuncountableAn obligation, debt or responsibility owed to someone.

   Those products – known as liability-driven investing, or LDIs – help offset liabilities and risks on pension funds’ books.

   2022 September 29, Kalyeena Makortoff, Sarah Butler, “‘I’d never seen anything like it’: how market turmoil sparked a pension fund selloff”, in The Guardian

   1 more example

   "I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim all responsibility," continued the other. "They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."

   1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw

   1. countableuncountableaccountingAny kind of debt recorded on the right-hand side of a balance sheet.

      Antonyms: asset

2. countableuncountableA handicap that holds something back, a drawback, someone or something that is a burden to whoever is required to take care of them; a person or action that exposes others to greater risk.

   Asked if at some point Huma becomes a liability to Hillary, the long-term Clinton insider replies, “It’s like anything else. I don’t think so, but you know I don’t have any idea. Hillary is very loyal, but she’s obviously pragmatic.”

   2016 January 31, “Is Huma Abedin Hillary Clinton’s Secret Weapon or Her Next Big Problem?”, in Vanity Fair

   1. countablederogatoryinformalmildlyuncountableA person on a team that is more of a hindrance than a help.

      You're a bloody liability sometimes!

3. countableuncountableThe likelihood of something happening.
4. countableuncountableThe condition of being susceptible to something.