Onus

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈəʊnÉ™s/
• US IPA: /ˈoÊŠnÉ™s/
• Rhymes: -əʊnÉ™s

Origin

From Latin onus ("burden").

Full definition of onus

Noun

1. A legal obligation.The onus is on the landlord to make sure the walls are protected from mildew.
2. (uncountable) Burden of proof, onus probandiThe onus is on those who disagree with my proposal to explain why.
3. Stigma.
• 1993, Dorothy Mermin, Godiva's Ride: Women of Letters in England, 1830-1880, Geraldine evades the onus of ambition by subordinating it to the service of her family, and escapes the onus of sexuality by bodily mutilation
4. Blame.
• 1977, Daniel Yergin, Shattered Peace: The Origins of the Cold War and the National Security State, ... what might be called "onus-shifting" — each side trying to make a record and place blame on the other for the division of Europe and the Cold War itself.
5. Responsibility; burden.
• 2000, Beatles, The Beatles Anthology, The onus isn't on us to produce something great every time. The onus is on the public to decide whether they like it or not.

Related terms

• exonerate
• exoneration
• onerous
• onus probandi

Anagrams

• nous