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Definition of accountable

accountable

/əˈkaʊn.tə.bəl/
ac · count · a · ble
Adverb:accountably
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accountable Lexical Profile

accountable Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible to someone or for something.

Example

"Public officials must be held accountable to the citizens they represent."

2

Capable of being explained or understood; explicable.

Example

"The sudden drop in temperature was easily accountable given the approaching cold front."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for accountable
Antonyms
View all antonyms for accountable

Word Nuance & Usage

When referring to a person or entity, "accountable" is typically followed by "to" (indicating the authority) and "for" (indicating the action or duty), as in "accountable to the board for the budget."

• Rhymes for accountable

• Nearby Words

accost
account
accountability
accountable
accountably
accountancy
accountant

Word Origin & Etymology

Late Middle English, formed from the verb "account" (from Old French "acompter", based on Latin "computare" meaning "to calculate") plus the suffix "-able".

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Accountable. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/accountable
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