Accountability
/əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/
nounB2
Definition
Accountability is the state or condition of having to explain or take responsibility for what you have done. It means you must accept the good or bad results of your actions and be ready to answer questions about them. People or organizations show accountability when they are honest and open about their work or behavior.
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⚡ See It in Action
Being responsible and answerable for actions
- •The manager has accountability for the team's success.
- •Employees must show accountability by completing their tasks on time.
- •Parents teach children accountability for their behavior.
The condition of being able to explain and justify actions
- •The government demands accountability from public officials.
- •Good leaders show accountability by being honest about mistakes.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "accountability" like "responsibility" (A2 word), but with the idea that you also have to explain and accept results, not just do the task
- ✓Picture a student who must show their homework to the teacher and explain how they did it
- ✓It's the feeling when you know you must answer for your choices, like when you promise to do something and others expect you to do it
- ✓Sounds like "account-ability" → imagine having the "ability" to "account" for everything you do, like keeping a clear list of your actions
- ✓Think of a referee in a game who must explain their decisions to players and fans, showing fairness and honesty
- ✓NOT like "freedom" (doing what you want without needing to explain), accountability means you must explain and accept results
- ✓NOT like "blame" (only negative), accountability includes taking credit for good and bad outcomes
- ✓NOT like "punishment" (which is a result), accountability is the responsibility before any punishment or reward
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Responsibility: duty to do something or take care of something (Use when focusing on the task or duty itself)
- •Answerability: being required to explain actions (Use in formal or official contexts)
- •Liability: legal or financial responsibility (Use when talking about legal or money-related accountability)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "account" + suffix "-ability" (ability to do or be something)
- •Etymology: From the word "account" meaning to explain or report, plus "-ability" meaning the quality of being able to do something
- •Historical development: "Accountability" started being used in English in the 17th century to mean the quality of being responsible and able to explain actions
- •Modern usage: Used in business, politics, education, and daily life to describe the need to be responsible and answer for actions
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does accountability help build trust between people or in organizations?
•Can someone have responsibility without accountability? What happens in that case?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.When a leader shows accountability, they ___ their decisions and actions openly to others.
2.Accountability means you accept the ___ of your choices, whether good or bad.
3.Unlike freedom, accountability requires you to ___ for your behavior.
4.Employees must show accountability by completing tasks ___ and honestly.
5.If someone avoids accountability, it can ___ trust in a team or group.
6.Accountability often comes with the need to explain your actions and face ___ or praise.
7.Parents teach children accountability so they learn to take ___ for their behavior.