accountability
uh-kown-tuh-BIL-ih-tee
/əˌkaʊntəˈbɪlɪti/
The fact or condition of being required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsibility.
Accountability is more than just responsibility; it implies that there are consequences if the responsibility is not met.
The story behind the word. Originally, this was a literal term from bookkeeping. To 'account' was to count up the money. If the numbers didn't add up, you were 'accountable'—you had to explain where the missing money went.
Word relationships
- answerability: Answerability is the obligation to provide an explanation, often to a higher authority.
- liability: Liability is specifically legal or financial responsibility for something.
- impunity: Impunity is exemption from punishment or freedom from the consequences of an action.
Commonly confused with
- responsibility: Responsibility is the duty to act; accountability is the obligation to answer for the outcome of that action.
Word family
- accountable (adjective): Required to justify actions.
- account (verb): To provide an explanation for.
Collocations
- hold someone accountable
- lack of accountability
- personal accountability
Idioms & expressions
- the buck stops here
Example sentences
- "Public accountability is essential for a functioning democracy." Governance
- "The new manager introduced a system of clear accountability for every project milestone." Corporate
Memory hook
AC-COUNT-ability: You have to 'count' up your actions and explain them. Answer for your actions.
When not to use
Do not use interchangeably with 'blame.' Accountability is a proactive state, while blame is a reactive assignment of fault.
Fun facts
- In the 18th century, 'accountable' was often used to describe people who were 'liable to be called to account' by God for their sins.
Related words
Explore more words
accountable, answerable, liability, take responsibility, transparency, governance
Also appears in
- Leadership → Delegation & Empowerment
- Leadership → Ethical Governance
- Business → Corporate Culture
- Business → Performance Evaluation
- Business → Business Ethics & Compliance
- Technology → Ethics in Science & Tech
- Political Science & Governance → Public Administration & Bureaucracy
- Education & Pedagogy → Assessment, Rubrics & Evaluation
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Corporate Social Responsibility
- Health Sciences → Medical Ethics & Bioethics
- Military Science & Warfare → Rules of Engagement & War Crimes
- Political Science & Governance → Corruption & Whistleblowing
- Criminology, Law Enforcement & Penal Systems → Policing Strategies
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