renounce responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'renounce responsibility' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the act of giving up or refraining from accepting responsibility for something. For example: "The government chose to renounce responsibility for the failed project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Wilson's triple thinkers (they include Pushkin, James, Shaw and Flaubert, from whom Wilson borrowed the phrase) are unwilling to renounce responsibility either to themselves or to their society.

The New York Times - Arts

Facebook should not be able to renounce responsibility for the way in which third parties collect, store or use personal data.

TechCrunch

So when problems do arise, they are quick to renounce responsibility.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As such, you should renounce this responsibility.

The New York Times - Magazine

The first is to renounce high responsibilities; the second to deny oneself or someone else something; the third to abolish by an official proclamation.

The Guardian

3. Social safety nets: it has been increasingly argued that engaging in a partnership mode provides the public sector an opportunity to renounce their responsibilities; this in a sense may lead to withdrawal of social safety nets.

Health Research Policy and Systems

If the members renounce their European responsibility and solidarity in a frenzy of national reflexes, everyone loses.

The Guardian - Opinion

On one hand, you know you can hardly complain since you chose to renounce your managerial responsibilities some years ago; on the other, your company's pay structure is clearly based more on job title than contribution, and that rankles.

The Guardian - Money

And across the nation, we abide by the archaic rules of an electoral college that has all but renounced its first responsibility: to elect someone fit to be president.

The Guardian - Opinion

It could also trigger a reinstatement of international sanctions on Libya that were lifted by the United Nations Security Council last September after Colonel Qaddafi's government renounced terrorism, admitted responsibility for the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing and agreed to pay $10 million compensation to the families.

The New York Times

This shows that companies producing natural cosmetics seem to take over responsibility and renounce these hazardous substances in comparison with conventional products [30].

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "renounce responsibility" when you want to emphasize a deliberate and often public rejection of duties or obligations. This phrase carries a stronger connotation than simply avoiding responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "renounce responsibility" interchangeably with terms like "delegate responsibility". "Renounce" implies complete rejection, while "delegate" implies assigning it to someone else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "renounce responsibility" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the action of rejecting or relinquishing accountability. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, aligning with examples where entities deliberately avoid obligations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "renounce responsibility" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, indicating a deliberate rejection of duties or obligations. While relatively uncommon, it appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. Related phrases include "shirk responsibility" and "abdicate responsibility", each with nuanced differences. To use the phrase effectively, emphasize the conscious and often public nature of the rejection, and avoid confusing it with delegation. The phrase functions to declare refusal of accountability, maintaining a generally neutral to formal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shirk responsibility

Indicates an attempt to avoid responsibility, often secretly or dishonestly.

evade responsibility

Suggests skillfully avoiding responsibility, often implying deception.

abdicate responsibility

Implies a formal or official relinquishment of responsibility.

decline responsibility

A more polite or formal refusal to accept responsibility.

disclaim responsibility

To deny any connection with or responsibility for something.

waive responsibility

To voluntarily give up a claim or right to responsibility.

disown responsibility

To reject any association or connection with responsibility.

reject responsibility

A direct refusal to accept responsibility.

forsake responsibility

To abandon or give up responsibility entirely.

relinquish responsibility

To voluntarily let go of responsibility.

FAQs

What does "renounce responsibility" mean?

The phrase "renounce responsibility" means to formally reject or give up a duty, obligation, or accountability for something.

How to use "renounce responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "renounce responsibility" in sentences like: "The company chose to "shirk responsibility" for the environmental damage caused by the spill."

What are some synonyms for "renounce responsibility"?

Alternatives include "abandon responsibility", "abdicate responsibility", or "reject responsibility", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it acceptable to "renounce responsibility"?

Whether it's acceptable depends on the context. Legally or ethically, one cannot always "avoid responsibility", but in some personal or organizational situations, it may be a viable option.