Home › Technology › Ethics in Science & Tech › accountability

accountability

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

nounC1GRETOEFLIELTS

formalgeneral

The fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility.

Implies an obligation to explain and justify one's actions, and to accept responsibility for the outcomes.

The story behind the word. The word 'accountability' traces its roots back to the Old French 'aconter' (to count, relate) and ultimately to Latin 'computare' (to count, sum up). The idea is that one must 'give an account' of their actions, much like a financial account. It implies an obligation to explain and be held responsible for one's decisions and their outcomes, a concept vital in modern governance and ethics.

Word relationships

responsibility: The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
liability: The state of being responsible for something, especially by law.
answerability: The state of being required to answer for one's actions.

irresponsibility: The state of not being responsible or reliable.
exemption: Freedom from an obligation or liability imposed on others.

Commonly confused with

responsibility: While closely related, responsibility can refer to a duty or task, whereas accountability specifically refers to the obligation to explain and justify one's actions and accept consequences.

Word family

accountable (adjective): required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.

Collocations

corporate accountability
public accountability
financial accountability
social accountability
lack of accountability
demand accountability

Example sentences

"The new CEO promised greater accountability to shareholders and customers." In corporate governance.
"There is a strong demand for political accountability when public funds are mismanaged." Regarding government actions.
"Establishing clear roles and expectations is crucial for fostering accountability within the team." In team projects.

Memory hook

To be 'ACCOUNTABLE' means you have to 'ACCOUNT' for your actions. Give an account.

When not to use

Do not use 'accountability' merely to mean 'responsibility' if there is no implication of being answerable to someone or something for one's actions.

Fun facts

The concept of accountability is fundamental to democratic governance, ensuring that elected officials are answerable to the public.

Related words

transparency, integrity, regulation

Explore more words

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