“Duty” vs. “Responsibility”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “duty” and “responsibility”

  • Duty is an obligation that one has to fulfill, whereas responsibility is a willingness to take charge and be accountable for one's actions.
  • Duty is often imposed by external factors, such as laws or social norms, whereas responsibility can be self-imposed.
  • Duty is focused on fulfilling a specific task or action, whereas responsibility is more broad and focused on being accountable for one's overall behavior.
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What is the definition of “duty” and “responsibility”?

Duty
  • Duty refers to a task or an action that one is obligated to perform, usually because of legal or moral reasons.
  • It is a mandatory obligation that one has to fulfill, regardless of one's personal desires or wishes.
  • Duty is often associated with certain roles or positions, such as a soldier's duty to protect his country or a doctor's duty to save lives.
Responsibility
  • Responsibility refers to the ability to be accountable for one's actions or decisions.
  • It implies a sense of ownership and willingness to take charge of a situation in order to achieve a desired outcome.
  • Responsibility is often associated with personal growth and maturity, as individuals learn to take on more responsibility in their lives.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Responsibility” is the more popular variant on the web.
Duty
927,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. It is his duty to report any mismanagement to the authorities.
  2. We have a moral duty to help those who are less fortunate than us.
  3. The soldiers fulfilled their duty to protect their country during the war.
More popular
Responsibility
1,460,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. It is our responsibility to take care of the environment for future generations.
  2. As a parent, it is my responsibility to provide for my children's needs.
  3. Everyone has the responsibility to follow the law and contribute positively to society.
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