noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/
Canada, US:/əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/
Canada, US:[əˌkaʊ.ɾ̃əˈbɪl.ə.ɾi]
Canada:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/əˌkæɔn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/
Australian:[əˌkæɔn.təˈbɪl.ə.ɾi]
CMU ARPABET:AH0 K AW1 N T AH0 B IH2 L IH0 T IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:AH0 K AW1 N AH0 B IH0 L IH0 T IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The state of being accountable; liability to be called on to render an account or give an explanation; liability to be held responsible or answerable for something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An open determination of one's responsibility for something and imposition of consequences.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An acceptance of good faith of one's responsibility for something and of its consequences.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The obligation imposed by law or regulation on an officer or other person for keeping an accurate record of property, documents, or funds.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
responsibility to someone or for some activity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: answerability, answerableness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: responsibility, responsibleness
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English accountable Proto-Indo-European *-teh2 Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh2ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English accountability From accountable + -ity.
Across languages
Translations
60 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
հաշվետվություն
(hašvetvutʻyun)
— state of being accountable
Armenian:
հաշվետվողականություն
(hašvetvoġakanutʻyun)
— state of being accountable
Bashkir:
яуаплылыҡ
(yawaplılıq)
— state of being accountable
Bulgarian:
отговорност
(otgovornost)
— state of being accountable
Catalan:
responsabilitat
— state of being accountable
Czech:
odpovědnost
— state of being accountable
Danish:
ansvarlighed
— state of being accountable
Dutch:
verantwoording
— state of being accountable
Esperanto:
respondeco
— state of being accountable
Finnish:
vastuullisuus
— state of being accountable
French:
responsabilité
— state of being accountable
French:
obligation de rendre compte
— state of being accountable
French:
obligation de rendre des comptes
— state of being accountable
French:
engagement responsable
— state of being accountable
Galician:
responsabilidade
— state of being accountable
Georgian:
პასუხისმგებლობა
(ṗasuxismgebloba)
— state of being accountable
Georgian:
ანგარიშვალდებულება
(angarišvaldebuleba)
— state of being accountable
German:
Verantwortlichkeit
— state of being accountable
German:
Rechenschaftspflicht
— state of being accountable
Greek:
ευθύνη
(efthýni)
— state of being accountable
Greek:
υπευθυνότητα
(ypefthynótita)
— state of being accountable
Hungarian:
elszámoltathatóság
— state of being accountable
Icelandic:
ábyrgðarskylda
— state of being accountable
Indonesian:
akuntabilitas
— state of being accountable
Indonesian:
tanggung gugat
— state of being accountable
Italian:
responsabilità
— state of being accountable
Italian:
rendicontabilità
— state of being accountable
Italian:
obbligo/capacità di rendicontazione
— state of being accountable
Macedonian:
отчетност
(otčetnost)
— state of being accountable
Malay:
akauntabiliti
— state of being accountable
Malay:
kebertanggungjawapan
— state of being accountable
Norwegian Bokmål:
ansvarlighet
— state of being accountable
Norwegian Bokmål:
etterrettelighet
— state of being accountable
Polish:
rozliczalność
— state of being accountable
Polish:
odpowiedzialność
— state of being accountable
Portuguese:
responsabilidade
— state of being accountable
Romanian:
responsabilitate
— state of being accountable
Romanian:
responsabilitate angajată
— state of being accountable
Russian:
отчётность
(otčótnostʹ)
— state of being accountable
Russian:
подотчётность
(podotčótnostʹ)
— state of being accountable
Russian:
отве́тственность
(otvétstvennostʹ)
— state of being accountable
Serbo-Croatian:
odgovornost
— state of being accountable
Serbo-Croatian:
одговорност
— state of being accountable
Sicilian:
rispunzabbilità
— state of being accountable
Sicilian:
rispunzabbilitati
— state of being accountable
Spanish:
responsabilidad
— state of being accountable
Spanish:
imputabilidad
— state of being accountable
Spanish:
culpabilidad
— state of being accountable
Spanish:
culpabilización
— state of being accountable
Spanish:
responsabilización
— state of being accountable
Swedish:
ansvarighet
— state of being accountable
Swedish:
ansvarsskyldighet
— state of being accountable
