(of a person) legally or morally having to carry out a duty, care (for a person, thing); involving the obligation to make decisions for others and bear the blame for their mistakes
accountable, in charge
Cases of word usage
1) (the person responsible for) the origin of a book etc (authorship)
2) a Christian clergyman responsible for a number of parishes (dean)
3) a person who is legally responsible for the care of a child and her or his property (guardian)
4) causing, responsible (for something); of or for musical instrument (instrumental)
5) responsible according to law (liable)
6) an army or air force officer of highest rank; an officer responsible for important public events or ceremonies (marshal)
7) a memory; the part of a person's brain responsible for thoughts and feelings (mind)
8) a person or business that manufactures goods; a person responsible for presenting a play in the theatre or for the production of a film or a radio or TV programme (producer)
9) (an instance of) prosecuting or being prosecuted; a person and the legal officials responsible for accusing another person of a crime and trying to prove it in a law court (prosecution)
10) an officer responsible for a ship's accounts and stores, the welfare of passenger etc (purser)