ClimateAugust 16, 2026
onus
OH-nuhs
Definition
The responsibility or burden of performing a specific task or duty.
Etymology
Derived directly from the Latin word 'onus', meaning 'load, burden, or weight,' which has been used in English since the 17th century to denote a duty or responsibility.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe how the current system unfairly places the burden of proof and reporting on the victims of pesticide drift rather than the regulatory agencies.
As study shows pesticides drifting onto Illinois schools and parks, residents push for better tracking
Read the full article ↗Chicago Tribune