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accountability

accountability

198 6.1
Being responsible for your actions and having to explain them to other people
  • noun
  • /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/
translation icon : rendición de cuentas
  • In our team, we emphasize the importance of accountability for all members' actions.
  • demands for accountability
  • accountability policy
  • accountability measures

And when you create that accountability, what happens, right?

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Examples

  • And my point is, is take accountability for your actions.

  • Well, blame and accountability are two different things.

  • Which is why personal accountability from a woman sets you apart.

  • You have to have accountability partners to to keep you on track.

  • Third, we need to restore accountability to our financial markets.

  • So it is reflected in the accountability system that we have for schools.

  • In either case, you are acknowledging your accountability for that treatment decision.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And I completely accept accountability and I've grown from that.

  • The Canadian Taxpayers Federation in Manitoba wants more accountability for how tax dollars are being spent.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Tim Walz has taken accountability for his DUI.

Synonyms

responsibility
vsaccountability
2.7

A duty to do something and answer for what you do

adds the extra requirement to explain and justify actions to others
ownership
vsaccountability
  • Jargon
43 3.3

Taking responsibility for a task and its results

is the formal state that requires explaining and justifying actions
answerability
vsaccountability
  • Formal
7.7

Being responsible to someone for your actions

is the official state requiring one to explain and justify actions to others
answerableness
vsaccountability
  • Formal
9.5

Being responsible to someone or for something and expected to explain actions

is the broader condition that includes having to justify actions publicly
responsibleness
vsaccountability
5.1

Careful and reliable way of acting that shows a person can be trusted with duties

focuses on the need to explain actions to others rather than just reliability

Antonyms

Failing to do required duties and causing problems for others

A situation when people are not held responsible for actions or decisions

Compounds

An independent agency that checks how the U.S. government spends money and reports to Congress

How Accountable

answerability
  • Formal
7.7
accountability
198 6.1
responsibility
2.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

accountability = accountable (transparent) = account + able + ity

Formed by a regular nominalization of the adjective 'accountable' with '-ity'; the meaning 'state of being responsible' is predictable.

Etymology

Accountability comes from account, which is about giving a report or 'counting' things, and -ability, meaning 'can be done'. Think of an accountant who counts and explains numbers; accountability means you must be able to 'give an account', to explain and take responsibility for your actions.