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
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
Steven Corder Examples of accountability in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In high-stakes industries where regulatory oversight and fiduciary responsibility are most critical, this transparency is necessary for compliance, accountability, and trust.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The megabill also would implement new accountability and transparency measures for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, amid national scrutiny of federal law enforcement after an ICE agent shot and killed a mother of three in Minneapolis.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Speed must be paired with accountability.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
As the lawsuit advances, the public confrontation highlights how disputes over AI safety, accountability, and profit have become deeply personal and increasingly public between two of the industry’s most influential figures.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accountability
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.
CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The megabill also would implement new accountability and transparency measures for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, amid national scrutiny of federal law enforcement after an ICE agent shot and killed a mother of three in Minneapolis.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Speed must be paired with accountability.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
As the lawsuit advances, the public confrontation highlights how disputes over AI safety, accountability, and profit have become deeply personal and increasingly public between two of the industry’s most influential figures.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accountability
Cite this Entry
“Accountability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accountability. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
