irresponsibleadj.n.
/ɪrɪˈspɒnsɪb(ə)l/ A. adj.figurative.1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue vii. 313 Our public-school and university life is a great wellhead of new and irresponsible words.
1. Not responsible; not answerable for conduct or actions; not liable to be called to account; exempt from or incapable of legal responsibility. Also (by extension), Acting or done without a sense of responsibility.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > undutifulness > [adjective] > irresponsible
irresponsal1637
irresponsible1649
irresponsive1884
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [adjective] > not responsible or accountable
uncountablea1475
intaxable1631
unresponsal1633
irresponsal1637
accountless1649
irresponsible1649
unchargeable1649
unquestionable1649
unresponsible1653
unaccountable1677
irresponsive1884
unanswerable1884
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [adjective] > irresponsible
étourdi1750
unresponsible1764
rattle-bag1888
irresponsible1890
1649 J. Milton Tenure of Kings 38 That no..Tyrant..may presume such high and irresponsible licence over mankind to havock and turn upside-down whole Kingdoms of men.
1681 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. I iv. 332 What a dangerous thing..is it for men to intrust..their Innocence and Religion in such irresponsible hands.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 39 They left the crown..perfectly irresponsible . View more context for this quotation
1860 J. L. Motley Hist. Netherlands (1868) I. i. 2 Epistles which contained the irresponsible commands of this one individual.
1890 T. De W. Talmage From Manger to Throne 643 The prisoner was idiotic and irresponsible.
2. Unable to respond to a legal obligation; insolvent.
ΚΠ
1890 in Cent. Dict.
B. n.
An irresponsible person.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > undutifulness > undutiful person > [noun] > irresponsible
irresponsible1894
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [noun] > irresponsibility > person
irresponsible1894
1894 Voice (N.Y.) 22 Feb. 8,000,000 workmen..would be frustrated by a body of legislative irresponsibles.
1897 Daily News 14 Apr. 5/4 The Greek Irresponsibles: still raiding... The Turkish Irresponsibles: becoming restive.
Derivatives
irreˈsponsibleness n. the quality of being irresponsible, irresponsibility.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > undutifulness > [noun] > irresponsibility
irresponsibleness1655
irresponsibility1818
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [noun] > fact of not being responsible
unresponsibleness1653
irresponsibleness1655
unresponsibility1835
irresponsibility1856
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [noun] > irresponsibility
irresponsibleness1655
irresponsibility1818
1655 in Munimenta Alme Univ. Glasguensis (1854) III. 492 Haisard in the security of moneyes throw the irresponsablnes of debitors.
1887 G. R. Leavitt in W. Gladden Parish Probl. 205 It develops self-will and self-sufficiency in the pastor, and in the people criticism and irresponsibleness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.n.1649