Another Word For Accountability

Meaning

Accountability refers to the obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions, decisions, and their outcomes. It involves being answerable and being held to a standard that reflects the trust placed in someone’s actions or roles. In various contexts—such as in workplaces, schools, or government—accountability ensures that individuals or organizations are responsible for their conduct and can be called to explain their choices.

Synonyms

• Responsibility
• Answerability
• Liability
• Obligation
• Transparency

Antonyms

• Irresponsibility
• Impunity
• Unaccountability
• Unreliability
• Negligence

Etymology

The word 'accountability' comes from the noun 'account', which originates from the Middle English "acount", derived from Old French "aconter" meaning "to count" or "to explain". The suffix '-ability' indicates a quality or state, thus 'accountability' essentially means the quality of being able to give an account of one’s actions.

Examples

1. The manager emphasized the importance of accountability in maintaining team trust and performance.
2. After the incident, the company faced public scrutiny regarding its accountability to its customers.
3. In a successful educational environment, students are taught accountability for their assignments and grades.
4. The government must uphold accountability to ensure that public funds are used wisely.
5. Personal accountability is key to achieving one's goals, as it encourages individuals to take ownership of their progress.