accountable

adjective ac·count·able \ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl\

: required to explain actions or decisions to someone

: required to be responsible for something

Full Definition of ACCOUNTABLE

: subject to giving an account : answerable <held her accountable for the damage>

: capable of being accounted for : explainable

— ac·count·able·ness \-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl-nəs\ noun

— ac·count·ably \-blē\ adverb

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First Known Use of ACCOUNTABLE

14th century

Related to ACCOUNTABLE

Synonyms: responsible, amenable, answerable, liable

Antonyms: irresponsible, nonaccountable, unaccountable

Synonym Discussion of ACCOUNTABLE

responsible, answerable, accountable, amenable, liable mean subject to being held to account. responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust <the bureau responsible for revenue collection>. answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance <an intelligence agency answerable to Congress>. accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation <elected officials are accountable to the voters>. amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions <laws are amenable to judicial review> <not liable for the debts of the former spouse>.