duty

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   Something you feel you must do because it is morally right, expected of you, or required by law.

   Grammar: Uncountable for the general idea (a sense of duty) and countable for a specific obligation (a duty to report).

   Patterns

   • a duty to do something
   • a duty to someone
   • do your duty

   Parents have a duty to protect their children.

   He felt it was his duty to tell the truth.

   Voting is both a right and a civic duty.

2. 2nounusually plural

   A task or set of tasks that belong to a particular job or role.

   Grammar: Usually plural when listing tasks: her duties include answering calls.

   Patterns

   • perform your duties
   • take on duties

   Her duties include ordering supplies and training new staff.

   The nurse resumed her duties after lunch.

   He was relieved of his duties last week.

3. 3nouncountable or uncountable

   A tax charged on goods brought into a country or on certain products.

   Grammar: Often modified by customs, import, or excise: pay duty on imported wine.

   Patterns

   • duty on something

   Travelers must pay duty on goods worth over the limit.

   The government raised import duty on steel.

   Wine bought at the airport is often sold duty-free.

Word forms

Common combinations

on duty

Two nurses are on duty tonight.

off duty

The officer was off duty when he saw the accident.

sense of duty

A strong sense of duty kept her at the hospital.

duty of care

Schools have a duty of care toward their students.

jury duty

She was called for jury duty in March.

customs duty

You may owe customs duty on the gift.

Synonyms and how they differ

obligation

Obligation stresses being bound by a promise or rule, while duty carries more moral weight.

responsibility

Responsibility can be something you accept freely, but duty suggests something you must do.

task

A task is a single piece of work and has no moral or legal force.

tax

A tax is a general charge, whereas duty is a tax on specific goods like imports.

Opposites

Word family

dutiful adjective

careful to do what is expected

dutifully adverb

in an obedient and responsible way

dutiable adjective

subject to a customs tax

duty-free adjective

sold without the usual tax

Commonly confused: duty or duty vs. job?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “duty”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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