adj
Common
accountable
uh-KOWN-tuhbl
Accountable (adj) means Required to explain or answer for one's actions; responsible. Example: “Elected officials should be accountable to the voters who put them in office.”
adj
1
Required to explain or answer for one's actions; responsible.
"Elected officials should be accountable to the voters who put them in office."
"Each team member is accountable for their own part of the project."
"Who will be held accountable if the new bridge needs repairs again?"
How to use accountable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExpected to answer for your actions if something goes wrong.
Common pairings
hold accountable
accountable to
accountable for
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like accountable.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more accountable
- Superlative
- most accountable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Elected officials should be _____ to the voters who put them in office.
Etymology
From account plus -able, first attested around 1400.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for accountable
See all rhymes for accountable →Frequently asked questions
What does “accountable” mean?
The word “accountable” means required to explain or answer for one's actions; responsible. In plain terms, expected to answer for your actions if something goes wrong.
How do you pronounce “accountable”?
“Accountable” is pronounced uh-KOWN-tuhbl (/əˈkaʊntəbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “accountable” in a sentence?
Here is “accountable” used in a sentence: “Elected officials should be accountable to the voters who put them in office.”
What is another word for “accountable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “accountable” include amenable, responsible, liable and answerable.
What part of speech is “accountable”?
“Accountable” is an adjective.
Is “accountable” a common word?
“Accountable” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "accountable" and "responsible"?
Being responsible means having a duty to carry out a task, while being accountable means being the one who must answer for the outcome. Several people can be responsible for parts of a project, but usually one person is ultimately accountable for the result.
What is the difference between "accountable" and "liable"?
"Liable" is often legal or financial, meaning obliged by law to answer for something or pay for it. "Accountable" is broader, meaning required to explain or answer for one's actions, without necessarily implying a legal penalty.
What preposition follows "accountable"?
"Accountable" is followed by "to" for the person or body you answer to, and "for" the action or result. For example, a manager is accountable to the board for the department's performance.
What are common collocations with "accountable"?
Common patterns include hold someone accountable, be held accountable, accountable for one's actions, and accountable to a manager or board. These reflect the sense of having to explain or answer for what one does.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include accountable:
