Liable is a word that means legally or morally responsible for something. This six-letter word is spelled with the phonetic transcription /ˈlaɪəbəl/. The first syllable is pronounced with the long "i" sound, while the second syllable has a schwa vowel sound. The letter "l" is pronounced with its regular sound, followed by a silent "i" that serves as a connecting letter to the final syllable. The last syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound and a silent "e" at the end.
Liable is an adjective that refers to the legal responsibility or accountability of an individual or entity for their actions or behaviors. It denotes the likelihood or probability of facing legal consequences or being held legally accountable for something.
In the legal context, liable implies being legally answerable or bound to compensate or make amends for harm, damage, losses, or wrongdoings caused to someone else. It signifies the legal obligations that arise from their actions, omissions, or negligence. For instance, if a person is liable for a crime, it means they are legally responsible for their actions and may be subject to legal penalties.
Liable can also be used in a broader sense to mean someone is likely or inclined to experience a certain outcome or result. In this context, it signifies the possibility of facing something or being exposed to a certain risk or consequence. For example, if someone consumes excessive amounts of sugary drinks, they may be liable to develop health problems such as diabetes or obesity.
Overall, liable encapsulates the legal responsibility or the likelihood of experiencing consequences or outcomes due to actions, behaviors, or circumstances. It serves as a critical term in discussions surrounding legal accountability and potential consequences.
Responsible; obliged in law or equity; accountable; exposed; subject, as, liable to fall.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word liable has its roots in Latin and ultimately comes from the Latin term liabilis, which means subject to legal claim. The Latin word is derived from the verb ligare, which means to bind.
In the 14th century, the term was borrowed into Middle English as liable with a similar meaning of bound or obligated by law. Over time, its usage expanded to encompass the more general sense of being legally responsible or likely to cause harm or damage.