accountability

From accountable +‎ -ity.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ə.ˌkaʊn.tə.ˈbɪl.ət.i/

• Audio (CA)

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accountability (usually uncountable, plural accountabilities)

1. The state of being accountable; liability to be called on to render an account; accountableness; responsible for; answerable for.
   • 1946, Winston Churchill, Sinews of Peace:

     The United States stands at this time at the pinnacle of world power. It is a solemn moment for the American Democracy. For with primacy in power is also joined an awe-inspiring accountability to the future.

   • 2016 April 10, John Oliver, “Credit Reports”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 8, HBO:

     Just think about that: 1 in 4 had an error, and 1 in 20 was seriously wrong. And that is not good. If every 20th Frosty that Wendy’s sold turned out to be a cup of warm goat semen, we would want some accountability and we’d want it fast! At least freeze it!

2. (military) The obligation imposed by law or lawful order or regulation on an officer or other person for keeping accurate record of property, documents, or funds. The person having this obligation may or may not have actual possession of the property, documents, or funds. Accountability is concerned primarily with records, while responsibility is concerned primarily with custody, care, and safekeeping.

• (Can we clean up⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) Accountability is condemned by some as jargon of the political élite and referring to a mechanism for democratic good governance that is unworkable in practice.[1]

• accountableness

• responsibility

• accountability at OneLook Dictionary Search
• accountability in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.