7 meanings: 1. a moral or legal requirement; duty 2. the act of obligating or the state of being obligated 3. law a legally.... Click for more definitions. Learn the meaning of obligation as a legal, moral, or social duty to do something. Find out how to use obligation in different contexts and collocations with examples from the Cambridge Dictionary. Definition and high quality example sentences with “ obligation ” in context from reliable sources - Ludwig: your English writing platform An obligation is a duty. It's your obligation or responsibility to call your mom on Mother's Day. Sending flowers would be even better.