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

Other Word Forms

• accountableness noun
• accountably adverb
• nonaccountable adjective
• accountability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of accountable¹

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

Example Sentences

Shock has quickly shifted to anger in Hong Kong, as questions grow on who should be held accountable for the blaze.

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The mood in Hong Kong has shifted from shock to anguish, as questions grow regarding who should be held accountable for the blaze.

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“My Office will pursue this case aggressively to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable for this senseless and deadly violence.”

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Those responsible, he added, "should be held accountable for the disgusting attempt to intimidate this family".

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“If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” he responded on social media.

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Related Words

• answerable 
• culpable 
• liable 
• obliged 

When To Use

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.