the highest responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the highest responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the importance of a task or responsibility. For example: "The highest responsibility of the mayor is to protect the interests of the citizens of the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Keeping Australia and Australians safe and secure is the highest responsibility of the government," we're told.

The Guardian - Opinion

For those of us in government, protecting Americans is the highest responsibility.

The New York Times

After the Conquest, FitzOsbern held a position of the highest responsibility.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Probably the highest responsibility of the secretary of state is to determine the intent of voters," said Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut's secretary of state.

The New York Times

Look, this, in my view, is the highest responsibility of the president of the United States, which is to maintain the safety of the American people.

The New York Times

reports, including measures that reflect whether women have full access to all levels of education and whether they can move up to positions of the highest responsibility.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The Naval Science program prepares students to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.

Yale University

Mogae was viewed as a shy but principled technocrat who did not shrink from the highest responsibilities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"If democracy means representing the majority," he explains, "as a symbol I think that those with the highest responsibilities should live like the majority do, not the minority".That is what he does, almost to the point of caricature.

The Economist

And if democracy has to represent the majority, as a symbol I understand that those who have the highest responsibilities should live as the majority does, not the minority.We have become feudal and the monarchy has come back in a different form.

The Economist

The program commissions college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the highest responsibility", ensure the context clearly defines who holds this responsibility and what it entails. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "the highest responsibility" without specifying the domain or context. For example, instead of saying "It's the highest responsibility", specify "Maintaining patient safety is the highest responsibility of a physician".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the highest responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It denotes the most important or ultimate duty that someone or something has. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the highest responsibility" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase employed to emphasize the utmost importance of a duty or obligation. Ludwig AI confirms it. While relatively uncommon, it appears consistently in reputable sources across News & Media, Encyclopedias, Science, and Academia. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to specify who holds this responsibility and what it entails. Alternatives include "the greatest duty" and "the primary obligation". Use this phrase judiciously to highlight tasks of paramount importance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the greatest duty

This alternative replaces "responsibility" with "duty", emphasizing a moral or legal obligation.

the primary obligation

This alternative uses "obligation" to highlight a binding requirement or commitment.

the utmost accountability

This phrase focuses on the aspect of being answerable or liable for actions and decisions.

the chief onus

This alternative uses "onus" to stress the burden or obligation of responsibility.

the supreme task

This option replaces "responsibility" with "task", focusing on the work or duty to be done.

the ultimate charge

This alternative uses "charge" to emphasize the entrusted duty or care.

the paramount concern

This phrase shifts the focus to something being of the highest importance and requiring attention.

the principal liability

This option uses "liability" to stress the potential for legal or financial responsibility.

the leading commitment

This alternative uses "commitment" to highlight a pledge or promise to fulfill a duty.

the core imperative

This phrase emphasizes the absolute necessity or command inherent in the responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "the highest responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "the highest responsibility" to emphasize the importance of a particular duty or obligation. For example, "The president believes that protecting national security is "the highest responsibility" of their office".

What is a good alternative to "the highest responsibility"?

Alternatives to "the highest responsibility" include "the greatest duty", "the primary obligation", or "the utmost accountability", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a highest responsibility"?

While grammatically possible in certain contexts, it's more common and stylistically preferable to use "the highest responsibility" to refer to the most important or ultimate duty.

What's the difference between "the highest responsibility" and "a significant responsibility"?

"The highest responsibility" denotes the most important or ultimate duty, while "a significant responsibility" simply indicates a considerable or noteworthy duty. The former implies a top priority, while the latter suggests importance without necessarily being the most crucial.