Commitment

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kəˈmɪtmənt/

Definitions

1. A promise or firm decision to do something, or the state of being dedicated to a cause or activity
2. A dedication to a cause or activity reflects a promise to undertake certain responsibilities while ensuring loyalty to specific goals or principles
3. An assurance given to take a specific action or uphold an agreement ; a strong sense of loyalty and consistent effort toward a particular purpose or cause

Etymology: "Commitment" is a plain formation: the verb "commit" with the suffix "-ment," which turns an action into the noun for that action or its result. "Commit" comes from Latin "committere," meaning to bring together, join, or entrust, built from "com-" (together) and "mittere" (to send). That original sense of sending things together still hides inside the modern verb, which can mean to entrust something to someone's care, to consign a person to custody, or to bind oneself to a course of action. The "-ment" ending is itself borrowed from Latin "-mentum" through Old French, and English has long used it to make nouns of result or process, as in "judgment," "statement," and "payment." Attaching it to "commit" gives a word for the state of having bound oneself, which is why "commitment" today covers both a formal pledge and the sincere dedication behind it.

Synonyms: dedication, devotion, obligation

Antonyms: indifference, neglect