accountable

adjective

ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl How to pronounce accountable (audio)
Synonyms of accountable
1
: subject to giving an account : answerable
held her accountable for the damage
2
: capable of being explained : explainable
… leaving aside variations accountable as printer's errors …—Peter Shaw
accountableness
ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl-nəs How to pronounce accountable (audio)
noun
accountably
ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-blē How to pronounce accountable (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of accountable

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responsible, answerable, accountable, amenable, liable mean subject to being held to account.

responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.

an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.

elected officials are accountable to the voters

amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.

laws are amenable to judicial review
not liable for the debts of the former spouse

Examples of accountable in a Sentence

If anything goes wrong I will hold you personally accountable! the owner was held accountable for his dog's biting of the child
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Building The Harder Half None of this argues against forming AI committees, naming accountable directors or updating governance charters to reflect the technology’s growing weight. — Amer Al Ahbabi, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Of course, physicians are not beyond reproach and should be held accountable when care is careless, harmful, or below the standard our patients deserve. — Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 But after cops were increasingly publicly exposed for using Flock to commit crimes, the company mobilized, instituting consequential changes that inhibit the public's ability to hold rogue officers accountable. — Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 As a result, Fed critics on both the left and the right have long asked whether the Fed is adequately accountable. — Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accountable

Word History

Etymology

Middle English accountable, accomptable, borrowed from Anglo-French acomptable, from acunter "to account entry 2" + -able -able

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of accountable was in the 15th century

Rhymes for accountable

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Browse Nearby Words

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accountable
accountably
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Cite this Entry

“Accountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accountable. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

accountable

adjective
ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇nt-ə-bəl How to pronounce accountable (audio)
1
: responsible for giving an account (as of one's acts)
will be held accountable
2
: capable of being accounted for : explainable
accountability
-ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
accountably
-ˈkau̇nt-ə-blē How to pronounce accountable (audio)
adverb

Legal Definition

accountable

adjective
ac·​count·​able ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl How to pronounce accountable (audio)
1
: liable
accountable for the burglary
2
: obliged to accept responsibility
the bank accountable for payment of the check
accountability
ə-ˌkau̇n-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce accountable (audio)
noun
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