What does "onus" mean?
A legal obligation.
Onus
/ˈəʊnəs/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A legal obligation.
- Grammar: onus is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: burden, absolute indication, accountability, allegiance.
- Useful contrasts: exemption, immunity.
- Usage evidence: The onus is on the teacher to make sure the student is actually learning something.
How to use "onus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "onus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "onus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "onus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "onus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "onus" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "burden" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "onus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A legal obligation. countable, uncountable
"The onus is on the landlord to make sure the walls are protected from mildew."
- 2 plural of ONU form-of, plural
- 3 an onerous or difficult concern wordnet
- 4 Burden of proof, onus probandi. countable, uncountable
"The argument is founded on a principle which is now acknowledged to be universal; and the onus of disproof must lie with those who may be bold enough to take up the position that a region exists where at last the Principle of Continuity fails."
- 5 Stigma. countable, uncountable
"Geraldine evades the onus of ambition by subordinating it to the service of her family, and escapes the onus of sexuality by bodily mutilation"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Blame. countable, uncountable
"... what might be called "onus-shifting" — each side trying to make a record and place blame on the other for the division of Europe and the Cold War itself."
- 7 Responsibility; burden. countable, uncountable
"The onus is on those who disagree with my proposal to explain why."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The onus is on the teacher to make sure the student is actually learning something."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "onus"?
Common synonyms include: burden, absolute indication, accountability, allegiance, arraignability, arraignableness.
How do you use "onus" in a sentence?
The onus is on the teacher to make sure the student is actually learning something.
How do you pronounce "onus"?
Pronounced /ˈəʊnəs/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₃enh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃énh₂os Proto-Italic *onos Latin onuslbor. English onus Learned borrowing from Latin onus (literally “burden”).