duty

Something you should do because it is your responsibility or the right thing to do.

• It is my duty to help.
• Parents have a duty to protect their children.
• She carried out her duties with care.

How to use it: duty to do something (We have a duty to care for the children.); duty to someone (She feels a duty to her family.)

Similar words: responsibility, obligation

Common phrases: do your duty, duty to someone, sense of duty, moral duty

The state of working and being responsible for a particular job or task.

• The nurse is on duty.
• He was off duty when the accident happened.
• Who is on duty tonight?

How to use it: on duty (Two guards are on duty at the entrance.); off duty (The doctor is off duty until Monday.); report for duty (She reported for duty at six.)

Similar words: service

Common phrases: on duty, off duty, night duty

A tax paid on particular goods, especially goods entering or leaving a country.

• You must pay duty on these goods.
• The government raised the duty on cigarettes.
• How much import duty will this parcel cost?

How to use it: duty on something (There is a duty on imported wine.)

Similar words: tax, tariff

Common phrases: import duty, customs duty, pay duty