accountability
Accountability is the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities and accept responsibility for them. It involves being answerable for the consequences of actions, decisions, and policies to a higher authority or the public.
Examples
3 of 5Parents should model accountability for their children by admitting when they make mistakes.
Parents should show their kids how to take responsibility by admitting when they make mistakes.
The public demands greater accountability from the government regarding the use of tax dollars.
Citizens want the government to explain clearly how they are spending public money.
Having a workout partner provides the accountability I need to actually get to the gym.
Having a gym buddy helps me stay committed to my exercise routine.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think 'Account-Ability': It is the 'ability' to give an 'account' (a story or explanation) of what you did and why.
Quick Quiz
The CEO emphasized that _____ is essential for a productive workplace culture.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Examples
Parents should model accountability for their children by admitting when they make mistakes.
everydayParents should show their kids how to take responsibility by admitting when they make mistakes.
The public demands greater accountability from the government regarding the use of tax dollars.
formalCitizens want the government to explain clearly how they are spending public money.
Having a workout partner provides the accountability I need to actually get to the gym.
informalHaving a gym buddy helps me stay committed to my exercise routine.
Academic integrity relies on the accountability of researchers to publish honest and accurate data.
academicScholarly honesty depends on researchers being responsible for the accuracy of their work.
Our new management system is designed to improve employee accountability and performance tracking.
businessThe new system helps make sure employees are responsible for their specific work results.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
hold their feet to the fire
to pressure someone to fulfill their obligations
the buck stops here
the final responsibility lies with a specific person
take ownership
to accept full responsibility for a task or error
Often Confused With
Responsibility is the duty to act; accountability is the requirement to justify the outcome of that action.
Accounting refers to the technical process of financial record-keeping, not the concept of answerability.
Usage Notes
Accountability is most frequently used in professional, legal, or political contexts to describe systems that ensure people are held responsible for their roles.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use the verb 'to account' when they mean 'to be accountable,' or use 'accountability to' when they should use 'accountability for' (and vice versa).
Memory Tip
Think 'Account-Ability': It is the 'ability' to give an 'account' (a story or explanation) of what you did and why.
Word Origin
Derived from the Anglo-Norman 'aconter' (to count or report), emphasizing the act of rendering a record of one's actions.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western corporate and political cultures, accountability is viewed as a cornerstone of democracy and ethical leadership.
Quick Quiz
The CEO emphasized that _____ is essential for a productive workplace culture.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free