Definition of "onus"

The argument is founded on a principle which is now acknowledged to be universal; and the onus of disproof must lie with those who may be bold enough to take up the position that a region exists where at last the Principle of Continuity fails.

1883, Henry Drummond, Natural Law in the Spiritual World‎

Geraldine evades the onus of ambition by subordinating it to the service of her family, and escapes the onus of sexuality by bodily mutilation

1993, Dorothy Mermin, Godiva's Ride: Women of Letters in England, 1830-1880, page 19

... what might be called "onus-shifting" — each side trying to make a record and place blame on the other for the division of Europe and the Cold War itself.

1977, Daniel Yergin, Shattered Peace: The Origins of the Cold War and the National Security State, page 6

The onus isn't on us to produce something great every time. The onus is on the public to decide whether they like it or not.

2000, Beatles with Brian Roylance, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, The Beatles Anthology, page 174

This throws the onus on freight operators' train planners to devise ingenious solutions to finding new paths.

2023 September 6, Anthony Lambert, “Train paths: more space for freight?”, in RAIL, number 991, page 34