If people or things are liable to something unpleasant, they are likely to experience it or do it.
She will grow into a woman particularly liable to depression. [+ to n]
This volcanic rock is less liable to shatter than limestone. [+ to v]
3. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are liablefor something such as a debt, you are legally responsible for it.
The airline's insurer is liable for damages to the victims' families. [+ for]
As the killings took place outside British jurisdiction, the Ministry of Defencecould not be held liable.
Synonyms: responsible, accountable, amenable, answerable More Synonyms of liable
liability (laɪəbɪlɪti)uncountable noun
He is claiming damages from London Underground, which has admitted liability butdisputes the amount of his claim.
Synonyms: tendency, susceptibility, proneness, likelihood More Synonyms of liable
Synonyms: responsibility, accountability, culpability, obligation More Synonyms of liable
More Synonyms of liable
liable in British English
(ˈlaɪəbəl)
adjective(postpositive)
1.
legally obliged or responsible; answerable
2.
susceptible or exposed; subject
3.
probable, likely, or capable
it's liable to happen soon
▶ USAGE The use of liable to to mean likely to was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable
Derived forms
liableness (ˈliableness)
noun
Word origin
C15: perhaps via Anglo-French, from Old French lier to bind, from Latin ligāre
liable in American English
(ˈlaɪəbəl; often, esp. for 3, ˈlaɪbəl)
adjective
1.
legally bound or obligated, as to make good any loss or damage that occurs in a transaction; responsible
2.
likely to have, suffer from, etc.; exposed to or subject to
liable to heart attacks
3.
subject to the possibility of; likely (to do, have, get, etc. something unpleasant or unwanted)
liable to cause hard feelings
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈlikely
Word origin
prob. via Anglo-Fr < OFr lier, to bind < L ligare, to bind (see ligature) + -able
liable in Insurance
(laɪəbəl)
adjective
(Insurance: General)
If you are liable for something, you are legally responsible for paying the cost of it.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ for
Travelers who are not covered by insurance are personally liable for covering incurred medical and associated costs.
The face amount of a policy is the amount for which it is written and, therefore,the limit the insurer may be liable to pay in one loss.
If you are liable for something, you are legally responsible for paying the cost of it.
Examples of 'liable' in a sentence
liable
The business may be liable for such disclosures.
Computing (2010)
Those outside Impress would be liable to pay whether they won or lost.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Our concern is that we may be held liable by letting him miss them.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The claimants had been deprived of an argument that they were not liable to pay the tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The women claimed his taxi was used against them and the insurers were liable.
The Sun (2012)
You will be liable for any tax due on investment income or profit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This means that they could receive an amount liable for inheritance tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Airlines are not liable for lost hand luggage.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That makes you both personally liable if you do not ensure the property is maintained.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Who is legally liable for my wasted costs?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Joint borrowers are jointly liable for the debt.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
On a preliminary issue the judge found that the defendants were liable to pay all arrears claimed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You are not liable for council tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Nor will they be personally liable for any deficit.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Also be aware that debtors are not liable to pay debts continuing beyond six years.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Higher compensation is likely if the airline is held liable and will vary according to whether passengers had dependants.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Anything over the threshold is liable to 40% tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Can a church be liable on the basis of negligent selection if it failed to conduct a criminal records check on the offender?
Christianity Today (2000)
Your son certainly deserves a dad, who will be legally liable to support him.
The Sun (2008)
They say they asked for proof as your previous insurer is liable to meet any third party claims until your car is covered under another policy.
The Sun (2012)
Given the money in the game, a player who changed club or renewed deals a few times could easily be liable for huge amounts.
The Sun (2014)
In the meantime, protect yourself by making payments with a credit card as then the card company is jointly liable if something goes wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Gains made on sale are liable to 18% capital-gains tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
liable
British English: liable ADJECTIVE
likely When something is liable to happen, it is very likely to happen.
He is liable to change his mind quite rapidly.
American English: liable
Brazilian Portuguese: passível
Chinese: 可能会
European Spanish: probable
French: susceptible
German: wahrscheinlich
Italian: avere molte probabilità di
Japanese: ～しそうである
Korean: ~할 경향이 있는
European Portuguese: passível
Latin American Spanish: probable
British English: liable ADJECTIVE
susceptible If people or things are liable to something unpleasant, they are likely to experience it or do it.
She will grow into a woman particularly liable to depression.
American English: liable
Brazilian Portuguese: passível
Chinese: 易于…的
European Spanish: propenso
French: sujet
German: anfällig für
Italian: soggetto
Japanese: 陥りやすい
Korean: ~하기 쉬운
European Portuguese: passível
Latin American Spanish: propenso
Chinese translation of 'liable'
liable
(ˈlaɪəbl)
adj
to be liable to sth/to do sth[person]有 ... /做某事的倾(傾)向 (yǒu ... /zuò mǒushì de qīngxiàng) [thing]可能会(會) ... /做某事 (kěnéng huì ... /zuò mǒushì)
to be liable (for sth) (for damages, debt) 负(負)(某事的)责(責)任 (fù (mǒushì de) zérèn)
1 (adjective)
Definition
probable or likely
James is liable to make costly mistakes.
Synonyms
likely
People are more likely to accept change if they understand it.
tending
inclined
She was inclined to self-pity.
disposed
I might be disposed to like him in other circumstances.
prone
For all her experience, she was still prone to nerves.
apt
She was apt to raise her voice and wave her hands about.
2 (adjective)
Definition
commonly suffering a condition
These trees are liable to being washed away by the flood.
Synonyms
vulnerable
Their tanks would be vulnerable to attack from the air.
subject
exposed
The troops are exposed to attack by the enemy.
prone
susceptible
Walking with weights makes the shoulders susceptible to injury.
open
They left themselves open to accusations of double standards.
at risk of
3 (adjective)
Definition
legally obliged or responsible
The airline's insurer is liable for damages.
Synonyms
responsible
I'm responsible to my board of directors.
accountable
The major industries should be accountable to their customers.
amenable
answerable
bound
All members are bound by an oath of secrecy.
obligated
I wonder why they feel obligated to work such punishing hours.
chargeable
Usage note
In the past, it was considered incorrect to use liable to mean `probable' or `likely', as in it's liable to happen soon. However, this usage is now generally considered acceptable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accountable
Definition
responsible to someone or for some action
The major industries should be accountable to their customers.
Synonyms
answerable,
subject,
responsible,
obliged,
to blame,
liable,
amenable,
obligated,
chargeable
in the sense of apt
Definition
having a specified tendency
She was apt to raise her voice and wave her hands about.
Synonyms
inclined,
likely,
ready,
disposed,
prone,
liable,
given,
predisposed,
of a mind
in the sense of bound
Definition
compelled or obliged
All members are bound by an oath of secrecy.
Synonyms
compelled,
obliged,
forced,
committed,
pledged,
constrained,
obligated,
beholden,
duty-bound
Synonyms of 'liable'
liable
Explore 'liable' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disposed
Definition
willing or eager (to do something)
I might be disposed to like him in other circumstances.
Synonyms
inclined,
given,
likely,
subject,
ready,
prone,
liable,
apt,
predisposed,
tending towards,
of a mind to
in the sense of exposed
Definition
vulnerable
The troops are exposed to attack by the enemy.
Synonyms
vulnerable,
open,
subject,
in danger,
liable,
susceptible,
wide open,
left open,
laid bare,
in peril,
laid open
in the sense of inclined
She was inclined to self-pity.
Synonyms
disposed,
given,
prone,
likely,
subject,
liable,
apt,
predisposed,
tending towards
in the sense of obligated
Definition
being morally or legally bound to do something
I wonder why they feel obligated to work such punishing hours.
Synonyms
obliged,
forced,
required,
bound,
compelled,
under an obligation,
under compulsion
in the sense of open
Definition
unprotected
They left themselves open to accusations of double standards.
Synonyms
susceptible,
subject,
exposed,
vulnerable,
in danger,
disposed,
liable,
wide open,
unprotected,
at the mercy of,
left open,
laid bare,
an easy target for,
undefended,
laid open,
defenceless against,
unfortified,
opN
in the sense of prone
Definition
having a tendency to be affected by or do something
For all her experience, she was still prone to nerves.
Synonyms
liable,
given,
subject,
inclined,
tending,
bent,
disposed,
susceptible,
apt,
predisposed
in the sense of susceptible
Walking with weights makes the shoulders susceptible to injury.