accountability

American  

[uh-kaun-tuh-bil-i-tee] / əˌkaʊn təˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

• accountabilities
  plural

1. 

   the state of being accountable, liable, or answerable.

2. Education. a policy of holding schools and teachers accountable for students' academic progress by linking such progress with funding for salaries, maintenance, etc.

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Usage

What does accountability mean? Accountability is the obligation to explain, justify, and take responsibility for one's actions. Accountability is the state of being accountable, meaning responsible for something or obligated to answer to someone, such as a person with more authority, like a boss. The word accountability is often used in the context of individuals, especially in the term personal accountability. It is 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. Example: The system of checks and balances is intended to ensure accountability among the different branches of government.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonaccountability
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accountabilities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of accountability

First recorded in 1785–95; account(able) + -ability

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Explanation

If you take responsibility for your own actions, you show accountability. Stepping up and admitting it when you break something shows accountability. Accountability is a noun that describes accepting responsibility, and it can be personal or very public. A government has accountability for decisions and laws affecting its citizens; an individual has accountability for acts and behaviors. Sometimes, though, taking accountability means admitting you made a mistake. Punishment may result, but accountability shows ownership and a willingness to admit mistakes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accountability accountabilities

Then, to ABC on Tuesday: "I'm not here to go on a witch hunt. All I've ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team."

From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026

“There’s no accountability, so they learn that it doesn’t matter what their work ethic is,” Hardcastle told The Wall Street Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

The results were pretty convincingly on the side of: If you don’t have some form of accountability for abuses of power, they’re more likely to recur.

From Slate ● Nov. 9, 2026

Early on as a council member, Raman told me she was sorting out the fragmented response to homelessness, having identified overlapping services, a lack of accountability, and broken lines of communication and coordination.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

I spoke at local meetings and tried to sensitize people to the need to insist on accountability from law enforcement.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

BP said the restructure will clarify accountabilities and enable faster decision-making.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

"As part of this process, we are redefining roles and accountabilities to remove duplication and simplify structures," he said.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024

“They’re not operating as individuals; everything is a collective approach, and there are clear accountabilities and responsibilities to the community.”

From Scientific American ● Jun. 7, 2023

“Yes, it’s a midyear election. But more importantly than that, we need accountabilities and we need to do this to keep our communities safer,” Beatty said.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 21, 2022

We have opportunities to reset expectations, build in new accountabilities and innovate beyond imagination.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 2, 2021

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Related Words

• liability

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