accountabilityn.
/əˌkaʊntəˈbɪlᵻti/, U.S. /əˌkaʊn(t)əˈbɪlədi/ 1. The quality of being accountable; liability to account for and answer for one's conduct, performance of duties, etc. (in modern use often with regard to parliamentary, corporate, or financial liability to the public, shareholders, etc.); responsibility. Frequently with modifying word. Cf. accountableness n., answerability n., public accountability n. at public adj. and n. Compounds 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > [noun] > fact of being responsible, answerable, or liable
accounta1393
respondence1586
accountableness1625
accountability1750
answerability1769
amenability1789
liability1794
answerableness1813
accountment1857
1750 Censor censured: Answer to Mr. Droz's Remarks 10 It will still lie on you to prove..that the afore-mentioned moral Sensations, are, in any Propriety, Laws, when abstracted from all Idea of Accountability, and of Rewards and Punishments.
1808 Mem. Dr. J. Cadman (1853) 75 To affect the accountability of man.
1816 R. S. Coxe Rep. Supreme Court New-Jersey 1 155 The orphan's court is..instituted by law to remedy and supply the defects in the powers of the perogative court, with regard to the accountability of executors, administrators and guardians.
1859 J. S. Mill Diss. & Disc. I. 467 Pushing to its utmost extent the accountability of governments to the people.
1935 Harvard Law Rev. 48 788 The reason why this distinction becomes crucial is..that financial accountability in the government means conformity with the legal requirements governing spending.
1986 G. Keillor Lake Wobegon Days 127 I had reached the age of accountability.
2007 R. Lovegrove Silent Fields iv. 87 They assumed accountability for..the supporting of maimed seamen and soldiers, highway maintenance, disbursing the poor rates, [etc.].
2. As a count noun: an instance of being accountable; a task, function, etc., for which one is accountable or responsible; a responsibility. Usually in plural.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > [noun] > that for which one is responsible
responsibility1779
accountability1801
job1841
1801 T. Jefferson Let. in Jrnl. Senate U.S. 16 Bringing back to a single department all accountabilities for money, where the examinations may be prompt, efficacious and uniform.
1880 Friends' Intelligencer 26 June 297/2 His energies are quickened, and, if he be a true man, he awakens to all the accountabilities of his new position.
1964 L. L. Fuller Morality of Law ii. 75 Blasting operations may be attended by an accountability for all harm that may result to others even though no intent to harm..can be demonstrated.
1996 Financial Times 11 Jan. 8/1 (advt.) Specific accountabilities include all aspects of Treasury management information, analysing product and market developments, communicating treasury policies, acting as senior dealer for forex, money markets and derivatives.
2004 N.Y. Times Mag. 19 Sept. 105 (advt.) In addition to investigating violations of federal criminal law, we are taking on new accountabilities as we work in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security and other Federal agencies.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1750