accountable

adjective

ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl 

1

: subject to giving an account : answerable

held her accountable for the damage

2

: capable of being explained : explainable

… leaving aside variations accountable as printer's errors …

—Peter Shaw

accountableness

ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl-nəs 

noun

accountably

ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• amenable
• answerable
• liable
• responsible

Choose the Right Synonym for accountable

responsible, answerable, accountable, amenable, liable mean subject to being held to account.

responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.

an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.

elected officials are accountable to the voters

amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.

laws are amenable to judicial review

not liable for the debts of the former spouse

Examples of accountable in a Sentence

If anything goes wrong I will hold you personally accountable!

the owner was held accountable for his dog's biting of the child

Recent Examples on the Web

This year events will enlighten educators on topics from identifying media bias to understanding journalism responsibility to keep institutions accountable. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024

Scaling Impact Globally Governments are implementing regulations to hold major emitters accountable for greenhouse gases. —Marianne Lehnis, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

As Sarkozy now faces a prison sentence, the case highlights France's judicial determination to hold powerful figures accountable. —Michael D. Carroll and Amir Daftari, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

The majority of the film is set within the confines of an asylum and a courtroom, with Fleck being held accountable for the handful of murders committed from the last film. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English accountable, accomptable, borrowed from Anglo-French acomptable, from acunter "to account entry 2" + -able -able

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

accountable

adjective

ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇nt-ə-bəl 

1

: responsible for giving an account (as of one's acts)

will be held accountable

2

: capable of being accounted for : explainable

accountability

-ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

accountably

-ˈkau̇nt-ə-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

accountable

adjective

ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl 

1

: liable

accountable for the burglary

2

: obliged to accept responsibility

the bank accountable for payment of the check

accountability

ə-ˌkau̇n-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun