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accountability

uh-KOWN-tuh-BIL-ih-tee /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪlɪti/

nounC1GREGMATTOEFL

formalbusiness

The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and disclose the results in a transparent manner.

Accountability goes beyond simple responsibility; it implies that there is an external party to whom one must answer and that there are consequences for failure.

The story behind the word. The word traces back to the Latin 'computare', meaning 'to count.' In the Middle Ages, it referred to the literal counting of money or goods. By the 1700s, it evolved to mean 'giving an account' of one's conduct, shifting from financial bookkeeping to moral and professional reckoning.

Word relationships

responsibility: Responsibility is the duty to perform a task, while accountability is the obligation to answer for the outcome.
answerability: Answerability is a more literal term for being required to explain one's actions, often used in legal contexts.

irresponsibility: A total lack of care or regard for consequences.
impunity: Exemption from punishment or freedom from the consequences of an action.

Commonly confused with

responsibility: You can share responsibility with a team, but accountability often rests on a single individual or entity who must answer for the final result.

Word family

accountable (adjective): Required or expected to justify actions or decisions.
accountably (adverb): In a manner that shows a willingness to accept responsibility.

Collocations

hold someone to accountability
lack of accountability
public accountability
corporate accountability

Example sentences

"Accountability is the glue that bonds commitment to results." In a discussion on leadership ethics, the author emphasizes the link between commitment and results.
"The new regulations were designed to increase the accountability of bank executives to their shareholders." The public demanded more oversight following the financial crisis.

Memory hook

Think of 'Account-Ability.' It is the 'ability' of others to look into your 'account' (your actions and records) to see if you did what you promised. The ability to give a full account.

When not to use

Do not use when referring to a simple task that someone is 'in charge of' without a formal reporting structure; use 'responsibility' instead.

Fun facts

In political science, 'horizontal accountability' refers to oversight between different branches of government, like a court checking a president.

Related words

transparency, governance, integrity

Explore more words

accountable, answerable, liability, take responsibility, transparency, governance