# obligation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/ · frequency rank #6,390

## Definitions
1. The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
2. A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
3. A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
4. A legal agreement stipulating a specified action or forbearance by a party to the agreement; the document containing such agreement.
5. Reason for being obliged to, that is, grateful for, something.

## Etymology
From Middle English obligacioun, from Old French obligacion, from Latin obligatio, obligationem, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- (“to”) + ligare (“to bind”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind”).

## Easily confused with
- **obligations** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/obligation-vs-obligations)

## Common misspellings (15)
`boligation`, `obbligation`, `obilgation`, `oblgiation`, `obliagtion`, `obligaiton`, `obligasion`, `obligatino`, `obligationn`, `obligatoin`, `obligattion`, `obliggation`, `obligtaion`, `oblligation`, `olbigation`

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