accountability

noun

ac·​count·​abil·​i·​ty ə-ˌkau̇n-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: the quality or state of being accountable

… the CFO has ultimate accountability for maintaining the books and records of the company …

—The Motley Fool

especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions

demanded more accountability from public officials

The … quarterback did take accountability for his play … recognizing it as an error that can't happen at this level.

—Steven Corder

Examples of accountability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But advice, no matter how rigorous, does not carry accountability. —Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

The unresolved warnings span some of California's most expensive and urgent problems, including unemployment fraud, homelessness spending oversight, public safety funding accountability, wildfire risk, and drinking water safety, just to name a few. —Julie Watts, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Instead, it’s funneled into systems that are long on slogans and short on accountability. —Jennifer Nassour, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026

Algorithms require transparency, oversight, and human accountability. —Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

accountable + -ity

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above