accountable
Americanadjective
-
subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something; responsible; answerable.
-
capable of being explained; explicable; explainable.
adjective
-
responsible to someone or for some action; answerable
-
able to be explained
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- accountability noun
- accountableness noun
- accountably adverb
- nonaccountable adjective
Etymology
Origin of accountable
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; account + -able
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to him, the British government must be held accountable and must make reparations to the victims' families.
From BBC
"Governments or individuals who seek to manipulate or evade the rules must be held accountable," Carter told The Athletic in a statement.
From Barron's
These included making Thailand's powerful military, and its largest businesses, more accountable, and reducing the heavy punishments under the notorious lese majeste law.
From BBC
“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs, and grief profiteers will be held accountable,” Arizona U.S.
From Los Angeles Times
"We stand in solidarity with the member states trying to hold online platforms accountable," European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier told AFP.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
