Pronunciation: /ˈoʊnəs/

Definitions of onus

noun a legal obligation

Example Sentences

A1 The onus is on you to finish your homework before class.

A2 As a team leader, the onus is on me to ensure everyone is working together effectively.

B1 The onus of responsibility falls on the company to provide a safe working environment for its employees.

B2 The onus is on the government to address the issue of rising unemployment rates.

C1 The onus of proof lies with the prosecution in a criminal trial.

C2 There is an onus on educators to continuously improve their teaching methods and stay updated on the latest research.

Examples of onus in a Sentence

formal The onus is on the defendant to prove their innocence in a court of law.

informal The onus is on you to finish the project by the deadline.

slang Don't put the onus on me to clean up your mess.

figurative The onus of responsibility weighs heavily on her shoulders.

Grammatical Forms of onus

plural

onuses

comparative

more onus

superlative

most onus

present tense

places the onus

future tense

will place the onus

perfect tense

has placed the onus

continuous tense

is placing the onus

singular

onus

positive degree

onus

infinitive

to place the onus

gerund

placing the onus

participle

placed the onus

Origin and Evolution of onus

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'onus' originated from Latin, where it means 'burden' or 'load'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'onus' has retained its original meaning of burden or responsibility, but has also come to be used more broadly to refer to any kind of obligation or duty.