Word: Duty

Pronunciation

/ˈduti/

Definitions

• Noun: A moral or legal obligation; something that one is expected or required to do by moral code, law, or custom. For example: “It’s your duty to report any suspicious activity.”

  • A responsibility or task that is part of one’s job or role. For instance: “A police officer’s duty is to protect and serve the community.”
  • A specific task or assignment, often within a military context. E.g., “He was on guard duty last night.”

• Adjective: Relating to or being a tax or levy, especially on imported goods. Example: “Duty-free shops offer items without import duties.”

Phrases

• “Do your duty”: This phrase implies fulfilling one’s obligations or responsibilities.
• “On duty / Off duty”: These terms denote whether someone is currently working or should be performing their job tasks (on duty), or they are not working or responsible for work-related tasks (off duty).
• “In the line of duty”: This expression refers to when someone carries out their official responsibilities, often with reference to injury or death suffered while performing these tasks.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “As a citizen, it’s our duty to vote in elections.”
• “The nurse attended to her patients with unwavering dedication to duty.”
• “Customs officers inspected the luggage for any items subject to duty.”

Synonyms

• Responsibility
• Obligation
• Commitment
• Task
• Assignment
• Charge
• Liability (in the context of taxes)