responsible

[ri-spon-suh-buhl]
adjective
1.
answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management (often followed by to or for ): He is responsible to the president for his decisions.
2.
involving accountability or responsibility: a responsible position.
3.
chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually followed by for ): Termites were responsible for the damage.
4.
having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action: The defendant is not responsible for his actions.
5.
able to discharge obligations or pay debts.
6.
reliable or dependable, as in meeting debts, conducting business dealings, etc.
7.
(of a government, member of a government, government agency, or the like) answerable to or serving at the discretion of an elected legislature or the electorate.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin respōns(us) (see response) + -ible

Related forms
responsibleness, noun
responsibly, adverb
interresponsible, adjective
nonresponsible, adjective
nonresponsibleness, noun
nonresponsibly, adverb
preresponsible, adjective
quasi-responsible, adjective
quasi-responsibly, adverb
superresponsible, adjective
superresponsibleness, noun
superresponsibly, adverb
unresponsible, adjective
unresponsibleness, noun
unresponsibly, adverb

Synonyms
1. liable. 4. competent. 5. solvent. 6. honest, capable, reliable, trustworthy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
responsible (rɪˈspɒnsəbəl)
 
—adj (usually foll by for) (foll by to)
1.  having control or authority (over)
2.  being accountable for one's actions and decisions (to): to be responsible to one's commanding officer
3.  (of a position, duty, etc) involving decision and accountability
4.  (often foll by for) being the agent or cause (of some action): to be responsible for a mistake
5.  able to take rational decisions without supervision; accountable for one's own actions: a responsible adult
6.  able to meet financial obligations; of sound credit
 
[C16: from Latin rēsponsus, from rēspondēre to respond]
 
re'sponsibleness
 
—n
 
re'sponsibly
 
—adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

responsible
1590s, "answerable (to another, for something)," from Fr. responsible, from L. responsus, pp. of respondere "to respond" (see respond). Meaning "morally accountable for one's actions" is attested from 1836. Retains the sense of "obligation" in the Latin root word.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Winner is responsible for all federal, state and local income taxes, if
  applicable.
Most of us embrace the concept of ecologically responsible gardening.
It's the plant responsible for the cloud of small lavender flowers pictured
  above.
She wants to know who is responsible for this display.
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