ultimately responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

"ultimately responsible for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone is the final authority or has the highest level of accountability for a particular task, action, or outcome. For example: The CEO is ultimately responsible for the recent drop in profits.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ofcom said parliament was ultimately responsible for regulating workers' rights.

The Guardian - Business

As Chairman I am ultimately responsible for all decisions.

The Guardian - Sport

"We shrinks are ultimately responsible for this," he said.

The New York Times

Coaches are ultimately responsible for what happens on the field.

The New York Times - Sports

But the Cypriot president is ultimately responsible for his actions.

The New York Times

bureau that wanted complete information, including the name of the man ultimately responsible for sneakers.

The New Yorker

And we see that the head coach is ultimately responsible for that".

The Guardian - Sport

And guess who is ultimately responsible for the content of university press releases?

The Guardian

Taxpayers have almost no say over that debt, but are ultimately responsible for it.

The New York Times

"I am ultimately responsible for what's taking place there," he said.

The Guardian

In our democracy, we citizens are ultimately responsible for what government does.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ultimately responsible for", ensure that the context clearly defines the scope of the responsibility. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the specific area or outcome for which the person or entity is accountable.

Common error

Avoid using "ultimately responsible for" when the accountability is shared or indirect. Overstating the level of responsibility can lead to confusion and misrepresentation of roles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimately responsible for" functions as a descriptor indicating the final level of accountability for a specific action, decision, or outcome. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment that the phrase is both correct and widely applicable. It's commonly used to clarify who bears the final burden of responsibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ultimately responsible for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the final level of accountability. As Ludwig AI confirms, its applications span across various contexts, including news, science, and business. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by defining the specific area of responsibility and avoid overstating accountability where it's shared or indirect. Alternatives such as "primarily responsible for" or "chiefly accountable for" offer similar meanings with subtle nuances. The phrase's prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Finally accountable for

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of accountability; the responsibility culminates at a specific time.

Accountable above all for

Highlights the ultimate nature of the accountability, making it the top priority.

Primarily responsible for

Shifts the focus to the main area of responsibility, rather than the final level of accountability.

Chiefly accountable for

Emphasizes the aspect of being held to account, using a more formal term.

Bearing final responsibility for

Uses a more descriptive and slightly more formal tone to convey the concept.

Answerable in the end for

Focuses on the final point at which someone must give an account of their actions.

Ultimately liable for

Introduces a legal or financial dimension of responsibility.

The buck stops here for

An idiomatic way of saying that someone is willing to take ultimate responsibility.

The last resort for

Implies that this person or entity is the final option when something goes wrong.

At the end of the line for

Metaphorically places the responsibility at the termination point of a process.

FAQs

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

You can use "ultimately responsible for" to indicate who has the final accountability for something. For example, "The CEO is "ultimately responsible for" the company's performance".

What are some alternatives to "ultimately responsible for"?

Alternatives include "primarily responsible for", "chiefly accountable for", or "finally accountable for", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "ultimately responsible to" instead of "ultimately responsible for"?

While "responsible to" indicates an obligation or duty towards someone, ""ultimately responsible for"" indicates final accountability for an outcome or action. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What does it mean to be "ultimately responsible for" something?

To be ""ultimately responsible for"" something means that you have the final accountability and answerability for it. You are the one who will be held to account if things go wrong, regardless of who else was involved.