ultimate liability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ultimate liability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to legal, financial, or contractual responsibilities, often referring to the final responsibility for a debt or obligation. Example: "In the event of a breach of contract, the company assumes ultimate liability for any damages incurred."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

BP's ultimate liability for damages from the spill will be based in part on that flow.

The New York Times

The ultimate liability of Mayer, Brown may hinge on the Supreme Court's coming decision.

The New York Times

In 2005, most analysts estimated that Merck's ultimate liability in Vioxx would be between $10 billion and $25 billion.

The New York Times

The order provided that their ultimate liability for the fees would depend on the outcome of this action.

Cornell University

The original bid from Five Mile and Lehman contained a liquidated damages provision specifically stating that the bidders' ultimate liability was the deposit.

The New York Times

The Export-Import Bank of the United States assumes the ultimate liability for loss, while the FCIA serves as the underwriting agency.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The agreement, by settling much uncertainty about BP's ultimate liabilities, also gave the company a boost on Wall Street.

The New York Times

Although it is hard to tot up the company's ultimate liabilities while the assessments are still under way, it incurred $13.6 billion in response costs in 2010 and has agreed to put $20 billion in an escrow fund, to pay damages to individual claimants for business losses and to state and local governments for clean-up efforts.

The Economist

So it looks like the investment community is happy about them saving some extra cash until it can be determined what BP's ultimate liabilities will be.

Forbes

The big wild card, however, is the company's ultimate financial liability for the oil spill.

The New York Times

With more than 400 actions pending against it, the Boston Archdiocese's ultimate financial liability could be tremendous -- by some estimates, more than $100 million.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or financial obligations, ensure that the context clearly defines the scope and limitations of the "ultimate liability". This helps to avoid ambiguity and potential disputes.

Common error

Avoid using "ultimate liability" without specifying what the liability pertains to. For example, instead of saying "the company has ultimate liability", specify "the company has ultimate liability for environmental damages caused by the spill".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimate liability" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the final responsibility for a debt, obligation, or wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

22%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ultimate liability" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase, primarily functioning to designate the final responsibility for an obligation, debt, or wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI validates, its usage is correct and widespread. Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, "ultimate liability" serves to clarify who bears the final burden in various situations. When employing this phrase, ensure the context specifies what the liability pertains to, avoiding overgeneralizations. Alternatives include "final responsibility", "total accountability", and "complete responsibility", offering nuanced ways to express conclusive accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

final responsibility

Replaces "ultimate" with "final", emphasizing the conclusive nature of the responsibility.

total accountability

Substitutes "liability" with "accountability", focusing on the obligation to answer for an action.

complete responsibility

Uses "complete" instead of "ultimate", highlighting the comprehensive nature of the duty.

overall liability

Replaces "ultimate" with "overall", suggesting a comprehensive assessment of responsibility.

full responsibility

Emphasizes the completeness of the obligation using the adjective "full".

maximum liability

Focuses on the highest extent of the responsibility one can have.

final accountability

Combines "final" with "accountability", highlighting the conclusive obligation to answer for an action.

end responsibility

Uses "end" instead of "ultimate", referring to the final responsibility.

chief responsibility

Highlights the importance of the responsibility by calling it "chief".

primary accountability

Focuses on the key or main responsibility in answering for an action.

FAQs

How can I use "ultimate liability" in a sentence?

You can use "ultimate liability" to refer to the final responsibility for a debt or obligation. For example, "The contract stipulates that the contractor bears the "ultimate liability" for any accidents on site".

What is a good alternative to "ultimate liability"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "final responsibility", "total accountability", or "complete responsibility" as alternatives to "ultimate liability".

What does "ultimate liability" mean in a legal context?

In a legal context, "ultimate liability" typically refers to the final legal responsibility for damages, debts, or obligations. It specifies who is finally responsible for covering the costs or consequences of a particular event or action.

What's the difference between "ultimate liability" and general "liability"?

"Liability" refers to a general state of being responsible for something, while "ultimate liability" specifies the final or highest level of responsibility. "Ultimate liability" clarifies who will bear the final burden of responsibility, especially in situations where multiple parties might have some degree of liability.