legally responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legally responsible for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing accountability or liability in a legal context. Example: "The company is legally responsible for ensuring the safety of its products."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whereas a publication is legally responsible for what it publishes, Glassdoor's reviews are the responsibility of its reviewers.

The New Yorker

I am legally responsible for the business".

The Guardian - Business

Alice is legally responsible for her grand-daughter".

The Guardian

Q : Who is legally responsible for the spill?

The New York Times - Science

Whether the firms could be held legally responsible for any wrongdoing is not clear.

The New York Times

(Dunston intends to be financially and legally responsible for any child born from the pre-embryos).

The New Yorker

Parents and carers are legally responsible for ensuring their children attend school (other than home schooling).

The Guardian

Until 1991 a man could not necessarily be held legally responsible for raping his wife.

The Guardian

Who would be legally responsible for death or damage if a gun were fired?

The New York Times - Travel

Operators are held legally responsible for everything appearing on or passing through their services.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the company notes, then, it is not legally responsible for labor conditions on the farms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Make sure to use "legally responsible for" only when the responsibility is enforced by law or legal statutes.

Common error

Avoid using "legally responsible for" when you actually mean morally responsible. Legal responsibility is determined by laws, while moral responsibility is based on ethical principles. For example, a company might be morally responsible for an environmental disaster, but only legally responsible if laws were broken.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legally responsible for" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that the subject has a legal obligation or duty regarding something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "legally responsible for" is a common and grammatically correct way to denote legal accountability, as verified by Ludwig AI. It is used across various contexts, including news, academia, and science, with a neutral to formal register. Related phrases include "liable under the law for" and "accountable under the law for", each offering a slightly different nuance. When using this phrase, it is crucial to specify the scope of responsibility clearly and to distinguish between legal and moral obligations. Ludwig's analysis shows the widespread applicability and importance of understanding this phrase in legal and general contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

liable under the law for

Focuses on the legal liability aspect, implying potential consequences for actions.

accountable under the law for

Emphasizes the obligation to answer for actions or decisions in a legal setting.

held legally accountable for

Highlights the action of being subjected to legal accountability.

legally bound to

Indicates a legal obligation or duty to perform a specific action.

subject to legal obligation for

Focuses on the state of being under a legal requirement.

answerable in law for

Stresses the need to provide an explanation or justification under legal standards.

legally culpable for

Implies a degree of guilt or blameworthiness under the law.

legally obligated to

Highlights the mandatory aspect of a legal duty.

legally chargeable for

Focuses on the potential for legal charges or accusations.

legally on the hook for

An informal way of saying someone is legally liable.

FAQs

How can I use "legally responsible for" in a sentence?

You can use "legally responsible for" to indicate who bears the legal obligation for something. For example, "The company is legally responsible for the safety of its employees" or "Parents are legally responsible for their children's actions."

What's the difference between "legally responsible for" and "morally responsible for"?

"Legally responsible for" implies a legal obligation that is enforceable by law, while "morally responsible for" refers to an ethical or personal duty that is not necessarily enforced by law.

Are "legally responsible for" and "legally liable for" interchangeable?

While similar, "legally responsible for" generally implies a broader scope of duties and obligations, whereas "legally liable for" often specifically relates to financial or compensatory obligations arising from a legal breach.

What are some situations where someone might be "legally responsible for" something?

Situations include parents being legally responsible for their children, companies being legally responsible for product safety, or individuals being legally responsible for contracts they sign.