ob·li·ga·tion 
/ˌɑ:bləˈgeɪʃən/ noun
plural ob·li·ga·tions /ˌɑ:bləˈgeɪʃən/ noun 1 : something that you must do because of a law, rule, promise, etc. [count] ▪ The firm must fulfill its obligations under the contract. = The firm must fulfill its contractual obligations. ▪ legal/financial/constitutional obligations ▪ Both landlord and tenant should know their rights and obligations. [=responsibilities] [noncount] ▪ You can try the machine for free without obligation. [=without being required to buy it or to do anything else] ▪ You are not under any obligation to stay. [=you are not required to stay] ▪ You're under no (legal) obligation to return the money. [=there is no law that requires you to return the money; you do not have to return the money] 2 : something that you must do because it is morally right [count] ▪ family/social obligations ▪ She believes that all people have a moral obligation to defend human rights. ▪ He argues that people in a community have certain obligations to each other. ▪ She failed to fulfill her obligations as a parent. [noncount] ▪ We visited them out of a sense of obligation. [=a feeling that it was the right thing to do]
