answerable

[ an-ser-uh-buhl, ahn- ]

adjective

1. liable to be asked to give account; responsible:

   He is answerable to a committee for all his decisions.

2. capable of being answered:

   a question answerable by mail.

3. proportionate; correlative (usually followed by to ).
4. corresponding; suitable (usually followed by to ):

   The amount is not answerable to my needs.

answerable

/ ˈɑːnsərəbəl /

adjective

1. postpositive; foll by for or to responsible or accountable

   answerable for someone's safety

   answerable to one's boss

2. able to be answered

Derived Forms

• ˌansweraˈbility, noun
• ˈanswerably, adverb

Other Words From

• answer·a·bili·ty answer·a·ble·ness noun
• answer·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of answerable¹

First recorded in 1540–50; answer + -able

Example Sentences

He yearns openly to rule the way China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin do, as an autocrat answerable to no one.

From Los Angeles Times

It is thought he did not like the idea of directly elected council leaders who would be answerable to his or her party, preferring a directly elected mayor who would be more detached.

From BBC

It recommends a single regulator, answerable to a government minister, so that officials and the industry can be held to account.

From BBC

"Political appointees who are answerable to the President and have decision-making authority in the executive branch are key to this essential task," reads Project 2025.

From Salon

"He doesn't talk about the incident or the moment because he's fearful... that if he does record it, and somehow someone comes across the diaries, he would be answerable."

From BBC

Related Words

• accountable
• amenable
• liable
• obligated
• obliged