die Verbindlichkeit
binding force
The quality of being legally or morally binding and obligatory.
EXAMPLE
Die mündliche Zusage hat in diesem Fall keine rechtliche Verbindlichkeit.
In this case, the verbal commitment has no legal binding force.
die Verbindlichkeit
binding force / reliability / liability
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Meanings
die Verbindlichkeit
reliability
A personal quality that describes reliability and keeping commitments. It refers to behavior in social interaction.
EXAMPLE
Ich schätze an ihm seine Verbindlichkeit; wenn er etwas zusagt, dann hält er es auch.
I appreciate his reliability; when he commits to something, he follows through.
die Verbindlichkeit
liabilities
In the plural (Verbindlichkeiten): financial obligations or debts of a company or person.
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen muss seine kurzfristigen Verbindlichkeiten innerhalb von 30 Tagen begleichen.
The company must settle its short-term liabilities within 30 days.
Usage tips
Word family
The word belongs to the family of 'verbinden' (to connect). The ending '-keit' turns the adjective 'verbindlich' (binding, obligatory) into a noun. So the basic idea of a fixed connection or commitment is contained in the word.
EXAMPLE
Eine mündliche Zusage ist zwar nett, aber erst der Vertrag schafft Verbindlichkeit.
A verbal commitment is nice, but only the contract creates binding force.
Context clue: plural
When the word is used in the plural — 'die Verbindlichkeiten' (liabilities) — it almost always means 'financial debts'. This use is typical of business and financial language.
EXAMPLE
Vor der Kreditvergabe prüft die Bank die bestehenden Verbindlichkeiten des Antragstellers.
Before granting the loan, the bank checks the applicant's existing liabilities.
Context clue: law vs. person
In the singular, the context distinguishes the meaning: if it is about contracts, laws, or formal rules, legal binding force is meant. If it is about a person's behavior and reliability, the personal quality is meant.
EXAMPLE
Die AGBs des Vertrags haben rechtliche Verbindlichkeit.
The contract's terms and conditions have legal binding force.
Typical phrase
The phrase 'ohne Verbindlichkeit' (without obligation / non-binding) is often used to make clear that information, an offer, or a statement is not legally binding.
EXAMPLE
Alle Angaben in diesem Prospekt sind ohne Verbindlichkeit.
All information in this brochure is non-binding.
Compare with
Verbindlichkeit vs Schuld
guilt / debt
A financial „Schuld“ is an amount of money owed and is usually referred to in everyday language as „Schulden“ (debts). „Verbindlichkeiten“ is a more formal term that summarizes financial obligations. „Schulden“ is appropriate for everyday statements about amounts owed, while „Verbindlichkeiten“ is used in a formal financial overview.
Verbindlichkeit
In der Jahresübersicht stehen Verbindlichkeiten von 20.000 Euro gegenüber der Bank.
The annual overview lists liabilities of 20,000 euros owed to the bank.
Schuld
Die Firma hat bei der Bank Schulden von 20.000 Euro.
The company has debts of 20,000 euros with the bank.
In real life
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