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Responsible vs Reasonable - What's the difference?

responsible | reasonable |

As adjectives the difference between responsible and reasonable

is that responsible is answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically while reasonable is having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; rational.

responsible

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
    • , author=William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter , title=The British Longitude Act Reconsidered , volume=100, issue=2, page=87 , magazine= citation , passage=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.}}
    Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
  • Capable of responding to any reasonable claim; able to answer reasonably for one's conduct and obligations; capable of rational conduct.
  • Involving responsibility; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
    • She has a responsible position in the firm.
  • Being a primary cause or agent of some event or action; capable of being credited for something, or of being held liable for something.
    • Who is responsible for this mess?
  • Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.
    • He looks like a responsible guy.

    Antonyms

    * irresponsible

    Related terms

    * respond * response * responsibility * responsibleness * responsibly

    References

    * *

    reasonable

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; rational.
    • a reasonable being
  • Just; fair; agreeable to reason.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 27 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992) , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=The episode also opens with an inspired bit of business for Homer, who blithely refuses to acquiesce to an elderly neighbor’s utterly reasonable request that he help make the process of selling her house easier by wearing pants when he gallivants about in front of windows, throw out his impressive collection of rotting Jack-O-Lanterns from previous Halloweens and take out his garbage, as it’s attracting wildlife (cue moose and Northern Exposure theme song).}}
  • Not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper.
    • a reasonable demand, amount, or price
  • Not expensive; fairly priced.
    • $20 a bottle is very reasonable for a good wine at a restaurant.
  • Satisfactory.

    • Antonyms

    * arbitrary * unreasonable