# liable

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈlaɪ̯əbəl/ · frequency rank #8,450

## Definitions
1. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable.
2. Subject; susceptible; prone.
3. Exposed to a certain contingency or causality, more or less probable.
4. Likely.

## Etymology
From Old French lier (“to bind”), from Latin ligare (“to bind, to tie”).

## Easily confused with
- **Lille** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-lille)
- **libre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-libre)
- **lisle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-lisle)
- **little** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-little)
- **lovable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-lovable)
- **likable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-likable)
- **livable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-livable)
- **likeable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liable-vs-likeable)
- **ladle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladle-vs-liable)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ilable`, `laible`, `liabble`, `liabel`, `liablle`, `lialbe`, `libale`, `liible`, `lliable`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/liable