# accountability

Pronunciation: say "uh-kown-tuh-BIL-uh-tee" US/UK /əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/, AUS /əˌkæɔn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/

## Noun

1. The state of being responsible for one's actions and liable to explain or answer for them when asked.
   - Simple: Being responsible for what you do and ready to explain it to others.
   - _Public officials must accept accountability for the decisions they make._
   - _A workplace culture of accountability encourages people to own their mistakes._
2. The open determination of a person's responsibility for something, together with the imposition of consequences.
   - Simple: Openly deciding who is responsible for something and then setting consequences.
   - _The inquiry was less about punishment and more about genuine accountability._
   - _Shareholders called for accountability following the company's heavy losses._
3. A good-faith acceptance of one's responsibility for something and of its consequences.
   - Simple: Being willing to admit you are responsible for something and to accept what follows.
   - _His quiet accountability, owning the error without excuses, earned the team's respect._
   - _True accountability begins with accepting that the fault lies with oneself._
4. The obligation that law or regulation places on an officer or other person to keep an accurate record of property, documents, or funds.
   - Simple: A legal duty to keep correct records of money, property, or papers in your care.
   - _Under military regulations, the quartermaster bears accountability for every item in the warehouse._
   - _The treasurer's accountability covers all documents and funds handled by the office._

## Origin

Formed from "accountable" combined with the suffix "-ity."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/accountability (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).