Dictionary

accountable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /əˈkaʊntəbl̩/

Etymology

From account + -able. First attested around 1400.

Meanings

1. Obliged, when called upon, to answer (for one’s deeds); answerable.
   • "Because the railway is economically and socially vital, it receives large amounts of public money and must therefore ultimately be accountable to government. [...] 2020 April 22, Philip Haigh, “Labour's blueprint for the future of Britain's railways”, in Rail, page 28:
   • You will be held accountable for your misdemeanors.
   • Everyone is accountable to God for their conduct.
2. Obliged to keep accurate records (of property or funds).
3. Liable to be called on to render an account.
4. (formal, rare) Capable of being accounted for; explicable; explainable.
   • True religion . . . intelligible, rational, and accountable, -- not a burden but a privilege. 1703, Benjamin Whichcote, Moral and Religious Aphorisms:

Forms

Deriveds

unaccountable · accountable disbursing officer · accountable officer · accountableness · accountability · accountable depot · accountably · nonaccountable · accountable mail

Relateds

hold to account

Synonyms

answerable · responsible · liable · amenable

Translations (52)

af aanspreeklik (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · sh о̏дгово̄ран (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · hy պատասխանատու (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · hy հաշվետվողական (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · nl verantwoordelijk (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · ba яуаплы (obliged to keep accurate records) · nl verklaarbaar (capable of being accounted for; explicable) · ru подотчётный (obliged to keep accurate records) · hu felelősségre vonható (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · ba яуаплы (liable to be called on to render an account) · sk zúčtovateľný (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · af verantwoordelik (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · mk отчетен (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fi vastuullinen (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · el ευεξήγητος (capable of being accounted for; explicable) · hu felelős (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · da ansvarlig (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fi vastuullinen (liable to be called on to render an account) · el υπόλογος (liable to be called on to render an account) · hi उत्तरदायी (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · el αρμόδιος (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · ru подотчётный (liable to be called on to render an account) · bg отговорен (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fy ferantwurdlik (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · cmn 有解說義務的 /有解说义务的 (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · cmn 有責任的 /有责任的 (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · ar مُحَاسَب (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fr expliquable (capable of being accounted for; explicable) · hy հաշվետու (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · et vastutav (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · pt responsável (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fa پاسخگو (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · it responsabile (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · ba яуаплы (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fr responsable (liable to be called on to render an account) · sv ansvarig (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fr responsable (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · ru объясни́мый (capable of being accounted for; explicable) · grc ὑπεύθυνος (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fy ferklearber (capable of being accounted for; explicable) · bg подотчетен (liable to be called on to render an account) · es hacer rendir cuentas (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · de verantwortlich (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · ru отве́тственный (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fi vastuunalainen (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · fi vastuunalainen (liable to be called on to render an account) · is skýranlegur (capable of being accounted for; explicable) · pl odpowiedzialny (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · hu elszámoltatható (liable to be called on to render an account) · ar مَسْؤُول (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · nl aansprakelijk (obliged to answer for one’s deeds) · sh ȍdgovōran (obliged to answer for one’s deeds)