abdicate responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'abdicate responsibility' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are discussing giving up or avoiding responsibility for something. For example, "The president abdicated responsibility for the financial crisis, leaving it to his advisors to figure out a solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Guarded by clerks who abdicate responsibility with responses like "not my decision," the ministry finally disgorges a prisoner into Lillian's custody — but not Pato.

The New York Times - Books

If they are responsible for all aspects of the company, then they cannot abdicate responsibility with a "Because I'm worth it" attitude when news of their large pay packages becomes public.

The Guardian - Business

So I am not really an accomplice". Just because it is challenging to figure out who is responsible and to what extent, does not mean that we abdicate responsibility.

HuffPost

I don't think central government can abdicate responsibility for that".

The Guardian

However, Campbell did not fully abdicate responsibility for the dossier.

The New Yorker

None of this requires that we allow others to abdicate responsibility for their lives.

The New York Times

But parents cannot abdicate responsibility for what comes into their homes, Ms. Lee said.

The New York Times

It was easier to abdicate responsibility than to deal with her.

The New York Times - Health

Does that mean you just abdicate responsibility for the actions of your members?

The New York Times - Magazine

I hope the board of Carnegie does not abdicate responsibility for its executive director's actions.

The New York Times - Arts

But one constant remains; you cannot abdicate responsibility for your children.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abdicate responsibility" to emphasize a deliberate act of relinquishing a duty or obligation, especially by someone in a position of authority or leadership.

Common error

Don't use "abdicate responsibility" when you mean to delegate a task. Abdication implies a complete relinquishment of duty, whereas delegation involves assigning a task while still retaining overall accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abdicate responsibility" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence. Ludwig examples illustrate its role in describing the act of relinquishing or avoiding obligations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "abdicate responsibility" is a commonly used expression that describes the act of relinquishing or avoiding a duty or obligation. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across various reputable sources. It is typically used in neutral settings, such as news and media, business, and scientific contexts. When using this expression, it's important to note that it implies a complete relinquishment of duty, as opposed to delegation, where responsibility is assigned but still overseen. Related phrases include "shirk responsibility", "evade responsibility", and "relinquish control", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shirk responsibility

Implies avoiding responsibility, often due to laziness or unwillingness.

evade responsibility

Suggests skillfully avoiding responsibility, sometimes through deception.

dodge responsibility

Similar to evade, but often implies a more sudden or reactive avoidance.

sidestep responsibility

Indicates avoiding responsibility by moving to the side or finding a way around it.

abandon duty

Focuses on leaving or forsaking a specific task or obligation.

relinquish control

Emphasizes giving up power or authority, which can include responsibility.

pass the buck

An idiomatic expression meaning to shift responsibility to someone else.

defer accountability

Refers to delaying or postponing the acceptance of responsibility.

wash one's hands of

An idiomatic phrase meaning to disclaim responsibility for something.

forsake obligation

Highlights neglecting or abandoning a commitment.

FAQs

What does "abdicate responsibility" mean?

To "abdicate responsibility" means to give up or renounce a duty or obligation, especially in a formal or official way.

How to use "abdicate responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "abdicate responsibility" to describe someone who is avoiding or shirking their duties, such as: "The manager "shirked responsibility" by not addressing the complaints."

What can I say instead of "abdicate responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "shirk responsibility", "evade responsibility", or "relinquish control" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "abdicate responsibility" and "delegate responsibility"?

"Abdicate responsibility" means to completely give up a duty, while "delegate responsibility" means to assign a task to someone else while still retaining oversight and accountability.