ENGLISH
REFERENCE

accountable

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //əˈkaʊnəbəɫ// UK //ɐkˈaʊntəbəl// ac·count·able Archaic

adj. responsible for your actions and able to explain why you did something. If you are accountable, you must accept the results of your choices.

adj. required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible to someone or for something. Often used in contexts of governance, management, or ethics to describe the obligation of an individual or institution to report on their activities.


SIMPLE

Managers are accountable for the safety of their employees.

CONTEXTUAL

The new law ensures that government officials are held accountable for how they spend public money.

COMPLEX

In a healthy democracy, the executive branch must remain accountable to the legislature to prevent the concentration of power and ensure transparency in decision-making processes.

Origin

From account + -able. First attested around 1400.

Usage

Commonly follows the verb 'hold' (to hold someone accountable) and is often followed by the prepositions 'to' (a person/group) or 'for' (an action).

Pitfall

he is accountable of the mistakehe is accountable for the mistakeAccountable takes the preposition 'for' when referring to the action or event, not 'of'.

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