a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility, a task or action that someone is required to perform as part of their job

do one's duty, a sense of duty, duty calls

jury duty, call of duty, off-duty

Formal and Informal Expressions of duty

In different contexts, you can replace 'duty' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'responsibility, obligation' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'job, chore' is a commonplace synonym.

duty: Explore its Definition & Usage

duty Definition

1a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility
2a task or action that someone is required to perform as part of their job

Using duty: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "duty" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
It's your duty to tell the truth.
Example
I have a duty to protect my family.
Example
He was killed while on active duty.
Example
She performed her duties with great care.

duty Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for duty

Antonyms for duty

Idioms Using duty

do one's duty
to fulfill one's moral or legal obligation
Example
She did her duty by reporting the incident to the authorities.
a sense of duty
a feeling of moral or legal obligation to do something
Example
He had a strong sense of duty to his family and community.
duty calls
used to indicate that one must attend to a responsibility or obligation, even if it is inconvenient or undesirable
Example
I'd love to stay and chat, but duty calls and I have to go to work.

Phrases with duty

jury duty
the responsibility of serving on a jury in a court of law
Example
I have to go to court for jury duty next week.
call of duty
a moral or legal obligation to do something, often used in reference to military service
Example
He felt a strong call of duty to serve his country.
off-duty
not working or on duty
Example
The police officer was off-duty when he witnessed the accident.

Origins of duty

from Old French 'deu', meaning 'due'

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Summary: duty in Brief

The term 'duty' [ˈdjuːti] refers to a moral or legal obligation, often associated with responsibilities and tasks. It can be used in various contexts, such as work, military service, or personal relationships, exemplified by 'She performed her duties with great care.' 'Duty' extends into phrases like 'jury duty,' and idioms like 'do one's duty,' denoting fulfilling obligations, and 'duty calls,' indicating attending to responsibilities.