du·ty n pl du·ties [Anglo-French deuté indebtedness, obligation, from deu owing, due, from Old French see due]
1: tasks, service, or functions that arise from one's position
performing a police officer's duties; also: a period of being on duty see also jury duty
2: an obligation assumed (as by contract) or imposed by law to conduct oneself in conformance with a certain standard or to act in a particular way
duty of can·dor /-'kan-dər/: a duty obligating directors of a corporation to disclose all material facts known to them about a transaction when they are seeking shareholder approval
duty of care: a duty to use due care toward others in order to protect them from unnecessary risk of harm
duty of fair representation: a duty obligating a labor union to represent the employees in its collective bargaining unit fairly and in good faith
duty of loy·al·ty: a duty obligating directors of a corporation to refrain from using their positions to further their own interests rather than the interests of the shareholders (as by self-dealing or fraud)
fiduciary duty: a duty obligating a fiduciary (as an agent or trustee) to act with loyalty and honesty and in a manner consistent with the best interests of the beneficiary of the fiduciary relationship (as a principal or trust beneficiary)
3: tax; esp: a tax on imports
off duty: not engaged in a duty
a police officer who is off duty
on duty: engaged in a duty
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.