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

When leadership gives clarity and accountability, prioritizing trust doesn't slow the organization down. — Jessica Hill Holm, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Additional development proposals have surfaced, and local residents have continued to demand greater transparency and accountability. — Rana Mitter, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Cloudflare can give agents a face—a link to the human or organization that owns them—so that trust, accountability and real commerce can follow. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026

Across every model, human accountability for the outcome remains constant. — Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

accountable + -ity

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above