accountable

adjective

ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl How to pronounce accountable (audio)
Synonyms of accountablenext
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 How to pronounce accountable (audio)
noun
accountably
ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-blē How to pronounce accountable (audio)
adverb

Synonyms

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hold yourself and others accountable for ensuring that AI serves humanity's best interests and contributes to a more just and fulfilling world. — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 The Trump administration will enforce the President’s executive authority and ensure his agencies remain accountable to the American people. — Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025 This move undercuts a system that has long given Americans confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy, removing the very forums where seasoned scientists evaluate global surveillance data, manufacturing constraints and population needs in an open, accountable manner. — Richard Hughes Iv, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2025 His advocacy aligns with broader efforts to hold government agencies accountable for data collection and usage. — David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accountable

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of accountable was in the 15th century

Rhymes for accountable

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Browse Nearby Words

accountable
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Cite this Entry

“Accountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accountable. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

accountable

adjective
ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇nt-ə-bəl How to pronounce accountable (audio)
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 How to pronounce accountable (audio)
adverb

Legal Definition

accountable

adjective
ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl How to pronounce accountable (audio)
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 How to pronounce accountable (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on accountable

Nglish: Translation of accountable for Spanish Speakers

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