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A moral or legal obligation to do something.
Citizens have a duty to follow the law.
This means it is their responsibility to obey legal rules.
Can refer to both moral and legal responsibilities.
A task or assignment that someone is required to perform.
The soldier performed his duty with honor.
This means he carried out his assigned tasks in a respectful and honorable way.
Often used in military or professional contexts.
A tax or fee imposed by a government.
The government increased import duties to protect local industries.
This means they raised taxes on imported goods to support domestic businesses.
In finance, 'duty' typically refers to customs duties or tariffs.
The meaning of 'duty' can vary significantly depending on the context. In legal or financial contexts, it often refers to obligations or taxes, while in everyday language, it can refer to moral or professional responsibilities.
In legal contexts, 'duty' refers to obligations imposed by law, while in moral contexts, it refers to personal or ethical responsibilities.
From Middle English 'dutee', from Old French 'deu', from Latin 'debitum' (debt, obligation).
In legal contexts, 'duty' often refers to a legal obligation. In everyday language, it can refer to moral or professional responsibilities.