Dictionary

unaccountable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbl̩/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English accountable English unaccountable From un- + accountable.

Meanings

1. Inexplicable; unable to be accounted for or explained.
   • However, for some unaccountable reason, these trains used the small terminus which can still be seen at Oxford Road, thus tending to isolate the line from its parent companies' systems. 1957 October 14, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 721:
   • And the having individually entertained four such resolves, without perceiving that once brought together, they all mutually expire; this, this ineffable folly, Pierre, brands thee in the forehead for an unaccountable infatuate! 1852, Herman Melville, Pierre; or The Ambiguities:
   • If only Poirot had been accessible, I could have asked his advice. What possessed him to go posting off to London in this unaccountable way? 1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 134:
2. Not responsible; free from accountability or control.
   • Thailand has dropped legislation to criminalise torture and disappearances after years of working on the bill, the United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday, leaving state employees unaccountable for serious crimes. 2017 March 1, “UN slams Thai 'culture of torture'”, in Bangkok Post:
   • Graeme Bickerdike, a member of campaign organisation The HRE Group, told RAIL: "This infilling and demolition programme - costing much more than repair - has been conceived with no thought for its impact beyond the silos where distant, unaccountable officials manage their spreadsheets. 2021 May 5, Tony Streeter, “Network News: Disused structures "assets to be preserved", say MPs”, in RAIL, number 930, page 23:

Forms

Deriveds

unaccountably · unaccountableness

Translations (10)

nl onaansprakelijk (Not responsible) · pl nieodpowiedzialny (Not responsible) · bg освободен от отговорност (Not responsible) · fr qui n'a pas de compte à rendre (Not responsible) · fi selittämätön (Inexplicable) · bg необясним (Inexplicable) · nl onverklaarbaar (Inexplicable) · grc ἀνεύθυνος (Not responsible) · fi vastuuton (Not responsible) · ru неподотчётный (Not responsible)