accountability

noun

ac·​count·​abil·​i·​ty ə-ˌkau̇n-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce accountability (audio)
: the quality or state of being accountable
especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions
public officials lacking accountability

Examples of accountability in a Sentence

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.
Even when stuff was going wrong, guys were taking accountability and going out there and trying to be better the next shift. Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Starring Wood Harris, MC Lyte, Russell Hornsby, and the late Esther Rolle in her final performance, the film delivers a powerful message about accountability and the consequences of one night that changes everything. Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025 With accountability, curiosity, visibility and innovation as our core values, that mix of creativity and rigor makes our solutions both scalable and human. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 To their credit, Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) continues to play an important role in promoting transparency and accountability in the garment sector, and its inclusion of freedom of association indicators in factory assessments contributes valuable data for policy dialogue. Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accountability

Word History

Etymology

accountable + -ity

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of accountability was in 1750

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accountability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accountability. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!