onus
onus Lexical Profile
onus Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Something that is one's duty or responsibility; an obligation or burden.
"The onus is on the employer to provide a safe working environment for all staff."
In law, the burden of proof required to establish a fact or claim.
"In a criminal trial, the onus rests entirely with the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."
Blame, stigma, or public disapproval attached to an action or condition.
"He bore the onus of the failed negotiation for the rest of his diplomatic career."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Onus" is almost always used in the singular with the definite article "the" and followed by the preposition "on" or "upon" (e.g., "the onus is on the applicant").
• Rhymes for onus
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century directly from Latin "onus", meaning "load" or "burden", originally popularized in English through the legal phrase "onus probandi" (burden of proof).