accountability

Definitions

Built on account ('an explanation owed') + -able ('able to') + -ity ('state of'). If you must give an account of what you did, you are accountable — answerable for it. accountability is the abstract state of owing that explanation.

Why It Means This

The word travels from a money ledger to a moral one: just as an account settles the figures, accountability is the duty to 'settle' your conduct — to step forward and justify what you did. It carries the sense that someone can be called to render an account at any time.

Common Collocations

• 1.hold someone accountable追究某人责任
• 2.demand accountability要求问责
• 3.public accountability公共问责
• 4.accountability for对……负责

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Voters are demanding greater accountability from their leaders.

• 2.

  There must be accountability when public money is wasted.

• 3.

  The new rules improve accountability across the whole department.