respondeat superior

/ɹɪˈspɒn.di.æt suːˈpɪəɹ.i.ə(ɹ)/

noun

A legal doctrine which holds that an employer, officer, manager, supervisor, or other individual or group superior to an employee or subordinate may be legally liable for the acts of that employee or subordinate.

OriginMedieval Latin respondeat superior →
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Meanings

nounrespondeat superior (uncountable)

alternative respondent superior

  1. uncountablelawA legal doctrine which holds that an employer, officer, manager, supervisor, or other individual or group superior to an employee or subordinate may be legally liable for the acts of that employee or subordinate.

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinrespondeat superior“let the superior respond or meet a charge”
  2. Englishrespondeat superior

From Medieval Latin respondeat superior (“let the superior respond or meet a charge”).

More words from Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 僱主責任原則 /雇主责任原则
  • 僱主責任原則 /雇主责任原则 (gùzhǔ zérèn yuánzé)legal doctrine
Finnish työnantajan vastuu
  • työnantajan vastuulegal doctrine
Cite this entry
APA

respondeat superior. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/respondeat%20superior

MLA

“respondeat superior.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/respondeat%20superior. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “respondeat superior,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/respondeat%20superior.

Source: respondeat superior on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.