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

With watchdog groups pressing for disclosure and Trump urging Judge Aileen Cannon to keep the report sealed, the ruling will set a precedent shaping government accountability, the balance of executive power, and how future investigations of high-ranking officials are documented and released. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Lastly, multiple candidates criticized the level of accountability the state takes compared to school districts, which have a lot more to lose if they are deemed noncompliant with standards imposed by the state. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 3 Dec. 2025

President Lee, meanwhile, faces a stiff challenge in balancing accountability for the political crisis with reconciliation and national unity. —NPR, 3 Dec. 2025

Months after a flash flood killed over two dozen campers and counselors, Camp Mystic is installing new high-tech river monitors and safety upgrades — as families push for accountability and lawsuits continue. —S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

accountable + -ity

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above