onus

plural onuses · plural onera · alternative oweness

1. countableuncountableA legal obligation.

   The onus is on the landlord to make sure the walls are protected from mildew.

2. countableuncountablelawBurden of proof, onus probandi.

   The argument is founded on a principle which is now acknowledged to be universal; and the onus of disproof must lie with those who may be bold enough to take up the position that a region exists where at last the Principle of Continuity fails.

   1883, Henry Drummond, Natural Law in the Spiritual World

3. countableuncountableStigma.

   Geraldine evades the onus of ambition by subordinating it to the service of her family, and escapes the onus of sexuality by bodily mutilation

   1993, Dorothy Mermin, Godiva's Ride: Women of Letters in England, 1830-1880, page 19

4. countableuncountableBlame.

   He'll always bear the onus of having caused the accident.

   1 more example

   ... what might be called "onus-shifting" — each side trying to make a record and place blame on the other for the division of Europe and the Cold War itself.

   1977, Daniel Yergin, Shattered Peace: The Origins of the Cold War and the National Security State, page 6

5. countableuncountableResponsibility; burden.

   The onus is on you to make the first move.

   4 more examples

   The onus is on those who disagree with my proposal to explain why.

   The onus isn't on us to produce something great every time. The onus is on the public to decide whether they like it or not.

   2000, Beatles with Brian Roylance, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, The Beatles Anthology, page 174

   This throws the onus on freight operators' train planners to devise ingenious solutions to finding new paths.

   2023 September 6, Anthony Lambert, “Train paths: more space for freight?”, in RAIL, number 991, page 34

   “A lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age, they try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard. And now you’re a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender, right?”

   2024 December 2, David Close, “Houston Texans head coach defends Azeez Al-Shaair as the NFL leans toward suspending the linebacker, source says”, in CNN

1. pluralplural of ONU