DUTY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does duty mean? 

• DUTY (noun)
  The noun DUTY has 3 senses:

1. the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

2. work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons

3. a government tax on imports or exports

  Familiarity information: DUTY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DUTY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

duty; obligation; responsibility

Context example:

every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty

Hypernyms ("duty" is a kind of...):

social control (control exerted (actively or passively) by group action)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "duty"):

legal duty (acts which the law requires be done or forborne)

demand; requirement (required activity)

prerequisite; requirement (something that is required in advance)

white man's burden (the supposed responsibility of the white race to provide care for their non-white subjects)

line of duty (all that is normally required in some area of responsibility)

incumbency (a duty that is incumbent upon you)

imperative (some duty that is essential and urgent)

filial duty (duty of a child to its parents)

civic duty; civic responsibility (the responsibilities of a citizen)

burden of proof (the duty of proving a disputed charge)

noblesse oblige (the obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous (often used ironically))

moral obligation (an obligation arising out of considerations of right and wrong)

guardianship; keeping; safekeeping (the responsibility of a guardian or keeper)

job (the responsibility to do something)

Derivation:

duteous (willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the duties of the job

Hypernyms ("duty" is a kind of...):

work (activity directed toward making or doing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "duty"):

function; office; part; role (the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group)

assignment; duty assignment (a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces))

chore; job; task (a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee)

Derivation:

duteous (willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A government tax on imports or exports

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Synonyms:

duty; tariff

Context example:

they signed a treaty to lower duties on trade between their countries

Hypernyms ("duty" is a kind of...):

indirect tax (a tax levied on goods or services rather than on persons or organizations)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "duty"):

custom; customs; customs duty; impost (money collected under a tariff)

tonnage; tonnage duty; tunnage (a tax imposed on ships that enter the US; based on the tonnage of the ship)

octroi (a tax on various goods brought into a town)

revenue tariff (a tariff imposed to raise revenue)

protective tariff (a tariff imposed to protect domestic firms from import competition)

import duty (a duty imposed on imports)

export duty (a duty imposed on exports)

countervailing duty (a duty imposed to offset subsidies by foreign governments)

 Context examples 

John Brooke did his duty manfully for a year, got wounded, was sent home, and not allowed to return.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Saturn will reenter Capricorn on July 1 to finish his tour of duty and finally leave for good on December 16, 2020.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The master went out on horseback a great deal, and to accompany him was one of White Fang's chief duties in life.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“It's dear,” he said, “on account of the duty. Threepence. That's the way we're taxed in this country. There's nothing else, except the waiter. Never mind the ink. I lose by that.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A question about whether an individual's fatigue interferes or interfered with certain duties or responsibilities.

(Fatigue Interferes with Certain Duties and Responsibilities, NCI Thesaurus)

An area of interest or recreational activity that someone pursues outside their occupational duties.

(Hobby, NCI Thesaurus)

Immunity from an obligation or duty.

(Exemption, NCI Thesaurus)

Their duties include taking impressions and bite registrations for preparing and repairing dentures and fitting dentures.

(Denturist, NCI Thesaurus)

You have done your duty in excluding, now let me do mine in admitting her.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

When he had in some measure recovered, I removed him to my own cabin and attended on him as much as my duty would permit.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)