accountability

/əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/
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The state of being responsible for actions or results and expected to explain them.

Examples

  • Who has accountability for protecting customer data?
  • Clear deadlines create accountability across the team.
  • She took accountability for the error and explained how she would fix it.
  • The minister accepted accountability for the failed policy.
  • The inquiry demanded greater accountability from senior officers.

Similar words

responsibility
answerability
liability
obligation

Meanings

Being answerable

noun
governance
neutral
The duty to take responsibility for actions or results and to explain them to others.

Examples

  • The minister accepted accountability for the failed policy.
  • Clear deadlines create accountability across the team.
  • Who has accountability for protecting customer data?
  • The inquiry demanded greater accountability from senior officers.
  • Without public accountability, officials can hide serious mistakes.
  • She took accountability for the error and explained how she would fix it.

Similar words

Etymology

Formed from accountable and the noun ending -ity. Online Etymology Dictionary records the sense "state of being answerable" from 1770.

FAQ

What does accountability mean?

Accountability is the duty to take responsibility for actions or results and explain them to others.

What is the difference between accountability and responsibility?

Responsibility often means having a duty, while accountability stresses being answerable for how that duty was carried out.

What does "take accountability" mean?

To take accountability is to openly accept that an action or result is yours to answer for.

Is accountability countable?

Accountability is normally uncountable, as in "greater accountability" rather than "an accountability."

What adjective is related to accountability?

The related adjective is accountable, meaning responsible and expected to explain actions or decisions.

Where does accountability come from?

Accountability was formed from accountable and -ity, and the answerability sense is recorded from 1770.

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