noun · academic

accountability

UK/əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/US/əˌkaʊn.t̬əˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/ac·count·BIL·i·ty

Band 6-7task2speaking

the obligation to explain and accept responsibility for actions; being held answerable.

Examples

International aid agencies demand accountability for how funds are spent.

Stronger accountability in local government can reduce corruption.

An independent audit improves financial accountability.

Band 8 sentence

To tackle graft effectively, policymakers must institutionalise transparency and accountability across every level of public administration.

Collocations

  • ensure accountability
  • lack of accountability
  • financial accountability

Word family

accountable adjectiveaccount (for) verbaccountability noun

Common mistakes

make accountabilityensure accountability

accountability of the governmentgovernment accountability

Say it for a higher band

5duty6responsibility7+accountability

Synonyms

responsibility

answerability

Easily confused

responsibility

The committee accepted responsibility for the error.

Related words

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In Society & Government

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