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

The nature of the autocracy—that it was only answerable to itself—meant it could not draw its power from the people.

From The Daily Beast

The unit was, according to Hughes, answerable to Adams, the Belfast commander.

From The Daily Beast

And yet for an agency that supposedly is answerable to no one, its people sure do testify a lot before Congress.

From The Daily Beast

Choice B: New bankers appointed by and answerable to the president.

From The Daily Beast

This time I am convinced that the second reason is almost wholly answerable for your latest commission.

From Project Gutenberg

Ford is answerable for many of the fixed ideas about Spain which it seems quite impossible to remove.

From Project Gutenberg

They hold themselves at all times answerable to the law of the land, for their conduct in the trust committed to them.

From Project Gutenberg

He chooses to return to his original state, and now stands answerable himself, when the time shall come for his trial.

From Project Gutenberg

And in such case should not I be answerable for any mischief which might ensue?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accountable
• amenable
• liable
• obligated
• obliged