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accountability

uh-kown-tuh-BIL-uh-tee /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/

nounB2TOEFLIELTSGREUPSC

formalneutral

The obligation or willingness of an authority or institution to accept responsibility for its actions and disclose results transparently.

Goes beyond simple duty to include obligation to explain, justify, and accept consequences before the public or governing boards.

The story behind the word. From Anglo-Norman French 'acount', derived from Latin 'computare' (to calculate). Originally referred to keeping financial ledgers, later evolving into the concept of rendering an account of one's political conduct.

Word relationships

responsibility: Responsibility is the duty to do a task, whereas accountability is the obligation to answer for the outcome.
answerability: Answerability stresses answering questions, whereas accountability includes accepting formal structural consequences.

impunity: Impunity means exemption from punishment or freedom from consequences for one's actions.

Commonly confused with

liability: Liability is a legal financial or criminal debt, whereas accountability is a broader moral and institutional obligation.

Word family

accountable (adjective): Required or expected to justify actions and decisions.
account (verb): To provide an explanation or calculation for something.

Collocations

public accountability
hold to accountability
accountability mechanism
financial accountability

Idioms & expressions

demand accountability
where the buck stops

Example sentences

"Without institutional transparency, public accountability becomes nearly impossible to enforce." Public governance reform
"The new auditor was appointed to restore fiscal accountability after funding anomalies were uncovered." Fiscal oversight committee report

Memory hook

Being able to COUNT up and show your ledger so people can see you are honest. Ready to render an account.

When not to use

Do not use as a synonym for simple cause-and-effect in physical sciences.

Fun facts

Many languages, such as French or Spanish, do not have an exact single-word translation for 'accountability' and must combine words for 'responsibility' and 'transparency'.

Explore more words

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