responsible

Etymology

From Middle French responsable, from Old French responsable, responsible, formed from the root of Latin responsus, from respondere. The spelling of the English word is taken from the Old French variant responsible.

adj

1. (postpositive, followed by "for") Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
   Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
   1. (postpositive, followed by "for", rare) In honor shame culture and patronage, the patron of the entity denoted by the prepositional phrase's compliment AKA object, the entity being its client. In this context the patron is usually being described analogously to a rump state that would govern the client, functioning as though it were a complaints department and a disciplinary apparatus by getting involved in any disputes involving the client, e.g. by acid attacking its own client or by taking revenge against the client's accuser.
2. (postpositive, followed by "for") Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
   Who is responsible for this mess?
   […]Karius was a danger to his own team, responsible for Madrid’s two other goals and last seen wandering aimlessly around the pitch – alone, distraught and clearly traumatised – to ask forgiveness, hands clasped, from the thousands of Liverpool supporters. 26 May 2018, Daniel Taylor, “Liverpool go through after Mohamed Salah stops Manchester City fightback”, in The Guardian (London)
3. (followed by "to") Answerable to (a superior).
4. (of a job or position) Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
   She has a responsible position in the firm.
5. Having good judgment in decision-making.
   But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea. 2012-03, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 87
6. Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.
   He looks like a responsible guy.
7. Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.

noun

1. (archaic) The individual who bears the responsibility for something.
   Were this not so, long since would we have traced directly home the responsibility for the war on Freedom in the Philippines. Long since, would we have hanged the responsibles as traitors to our country. 1899, The Harlequin, volume 1, page 12
2. (theater) An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.
   […] first appeared on August Bank Holiday, 1901, at Grand Theatre, Llandudno, playing "responsibles" with Edward Compton; […] 1907, The Green Room Book; Or, Who's Who on the Stage, page 9
   'Well, the Cardinal is the heavy part, isn't it?' 'I know.' 'Then,' said I, 'you'd better go'; and one of the Responsibles took it on, and was perfect on the night. 1926, Arthur Machen, Dreads and Drolls