accountable

[ uh-koun-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something; responsible; answerable.
2. capable of being explained; explicable; explainable.

accountable

/ əˈkaʊntəbəl /

adjective

1. responsible to someone or for some action; answerable
2. able to be explained

Derived Forms

• acˈcountably, adverb
• acˌcountaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• ac·counta·ble·ness noun
• ac·counta·bly adverb
• nonac·counta·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accountable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; account + -able

Example Sentences

“There comes a time when you have to be held accountable and accept responsibility,” Anderson said.

From Los Angeles Times

But the pair also reassured viewers that they remain committed to speaking “truth to power” and will be critical of Trump when needed to hold him accountable.

From Salon

Proposition 36’s lesson for policymakers: Stop easing up on criminals and start holding them more accountable.

From Los Angeles Times

Schiff’s contentious relationship with Trump — and Trump’s disdain for him — stem directly from Schiff’s work in the House to hold the Republican accountable before and during his first term in office.

From Los Angeles Times

And yet Mr. Trump cloaked the effort’s announcement in glamour, calling it “potentially ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” aiming “to liberate our economy, and make the U.S. government accountable to ‘WE THE PEOPLE.’”

From New York Times

Related Words

• answerable
• culpable
• liable
• obliged

More About Accountable

What does accountable mean?

Accountable means obligated to explain, justify, and take responsibility for one’s actions, and to answer to someone, such as a person with more authority.

The state of being accountable is accountability.

The word accountable is often used in the context of individuals taking responsibility for their actions. It’s also commonly used in the context of institutions or people that are responsible to the public, such as the government, its agencies, politicians, and the media. Accountability is often discussed with transparency and consequences. This typically involves keeping people and organizations accountable by making their actions visible and having consequences when those actions are not acceptable.

Accountable is often used with the verb hold, as in We need to hold him accountable for his actions. 

Example: The system of checks and balances is intended to keep the different branches of government accountable.

Where does accountable come from?

The first records of accountable come from the 1300s. Its base word, account, is often used as a verb meaning “to justify” or “to explain,” as in How do you account for your actions? To be accountable, then, is to be able to account for one’s actions.

You can’t keep people accountable without an account—meaning a record of what happened, or at least the knowledge of it. If actions are hidden, there can be no accountability for them. This means that holding a person—or oneself—accountable starts with honesty. Accountability in institutions and organizations starts with transparency (such as access to documents). Holding people accountable also involves establishing consequences. Otherwise, people and institutions would be free to do whatever they wanted—leading to corruption. In this way, accountability usually involves methods intended to prevent too much power from being held in one place. For individuals, it often involves recognizing shortcomings (such as implicit bias) and working to overcome them.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to accountable?

• accountability (noun)
• accountably (adverb)

What are some synonyms for accountable?

• responsible
• answerable
• dependable

What are some words that share a root or word element with accountable? 

• account
• accountant 

What are some words that often get used in discussing accountable?

• personally
• government
• press
• media
• consequences 
• transparency
• institution
• office

How is accountable used in real life?

Accountable is used in the context of both organizations and individuals.

it’s not “cancel culture” if people are being held accountable for their actions.

— Logan (@loganahobson) June 23, 2020

EVERYONE should feel safe playing games and EVERYONE should feel safe MAKING games, and art, and film, and comics, and anyone who makes these industries perilous for women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, POC, ANYONE needs to be held accountable.

— RIOT HYLIΔ🏳️‍🌈 (@faeriefountain) June 23, 2020

Normalize holding your friends accountable for their actions and stop turning a blind eye and making excuses for their toxic behavior. 💜

— SoaR Annialis 🏳️‍🌈 (@AnnialisXD) June 22, 2020

 

 

Try using accountable!

True or False? 

Being accountable usually requires transparency and consequences.