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

The situation has fueled broader conversations about event marketing, consumer expectations and accountability when large-scale fan experiences do not match their promotional claims. —Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026

Drop your ego, keep the accountability, and focus on improvement. —Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026

Chicago deserves leaders who treat public safety, accountability and reliable transit as priorities, not afterthoughts. —Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026

Meanwhile, broader accountability for Israeli soldiers’ role in supporting settlers and concrete action against rampant Israeli settler violence remains lacking. —Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

accountable + -ity

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above