onus

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A legal obligation.

   “The onus is on the landlord to make sure the walls are protected from mildew.”

2. (countable, uncountable)Burden of proof, onus probandi.

   “The argument is founded on a principle which is now acknowledged to be universal; and the onus of disproof must lie with those who may be bold enough to take up the position that a region exists where at last the Principle of Continuity fails.”

3. (countable, uncountable)Stigma.

   “Geraldine evades the onus of ambition by subordinating it to the service of her family, and escapes the onus of sexuality by bodily mutilation”

4. (countable, uncountable)Blame.

   “... what might be called "onus-shifting" — each side trying to make a record and place blame on the other for the division of Europe and the Cold War itself.”

5. (countable, uncountable)Responsibility; burden.

   “The onus is on those who disagree with my proposal to explain why.”

   “The onus isn't on us to produce something great every time. The onus is on the public to decide whether they like it or not.”

   “This throws the onus on freight operators' train planners to devise ingenious solutions to finding new paths.”

   ““A lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age, they try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard. And now you’re a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender, right?””

6. (form-of, plural)plural of ONU