liability
/laɪəˈbɪlɪti/
Group 22Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (noun)
- The state of being responsible for something; a person or thing whose presence is a disadvantage GRE
Example in Context
What had once been the company's greatest asset—its massive real estate holdings—had become its most significant liability.
Synonyms
burdendrawbackweakness
Etymology
Being bound to a responsibility, often seen as a disadvantage.
- ligare (Latin) — to bind
Memory Aid
🤥Sounds like “lie ability”
A magician with the 'LIE ABILITY' to make your money disappear — that's a LIABILITY!
Visual Association
⚖️A person balancing a massive stack of bills on their shoulders, struggling under the weight of their responsibilities.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “liability” mean on the GRE?
liability (noun) means “The state of being responsible for something; a person or thing whose presence is a disadvantage”. What had once been the company's greatest asset—its massive real estate holdings—had become its most significant liability.
How to remember “liability” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “liability” sounds like “lie ability”. A magician with the 'LIE ABILITY' to make your money disappear — that's a LIABILITY!
What are synonyms for “liability”?
Common synonyms: burden, drawback, weakness.