unaccountable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unaccountable' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to someone or something that is unable to be held responsible, rationalized or explained. Example sentence: He was held accountable for his actions, but his behavior was often unaccountable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All that talk of upholding law and order during the miners strike and of the importance of the ballot over unaccountable power looks a little thin in the light of what we now know about police conduct during the strike.

The Guardian

Legal challenges to DRM strike at the heart of this issue: is it us, or distant, unaccountable corporations that control not only our media, but the software in our phones, our cars, and our fire alarms?

The Guardian - Books

The campaign had promised to take on unaccountable interest and fight for the poor, he said, but "in the process the squeezed middle were themselves squeezed out of the story for why Britain needed a Labour government".

The Guardian

The Tory plans to repeal the HRA, together with the restricted access to our courts already brought about by the restriction on judicial review introduced by Gove's predecessor, Chris Grayling, will silence the vulnerable and leave great swaths of executive action unchecked and unaccountable.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We need to fix our dysfunctional political system and get unaccountable money out of it once and for all – even if that takes a constitutional amendment," she said.

The Guardian

Key reforms recommended by the Bahrain independent commission of inquiry in 2012 have not been implemented, leaving the political system unrepresentative and the security forces unaccountable.

The Guardian

We do not make demands from governments, corporations or parliament members, which some of us see as illegitimate, unaccountable or corrupt.

The Guardian - Opinion

As they stand, most free and open online business models rest on a grotesque inequality between what is given by the many – detailed, constantly updated personalised data – and what is taken by the few: profit, knowledge, and the indefinite and largely unaccountable possession of both.

The Guardian - Opinion

Greens (p61): "[We will] Oppose any case for secret unaccountable mass surveillance of the type exposed by Edward Snowden.

The Guardian - Tech

Namely, the size and unaccountable power of the state; criminality and tax evasion among corporations; and the venality and powerlessness of official politics.

The Guardian - Opinion

And that's why they are really dangerous, because cycling needs to progress and be embraced, but the more badly behaved and unaccountable cyclists are perceived to be, the greater the likelihood that we'll be forced into restrictive and bureaucratic measures that set the whole cause back.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "unaccountable", consider whether "unexplainable" or "irresponsible" might offer greater precision, depending on the specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "unaccountable" when the primary issue is negligence or a failure to act responsibly. "Unaccountable" emphasizes the lack of oversight or justification, whereas "irresponsible" focuses on the failure to fulfill obligations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unaccountable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, describing them as lacking accountability, being inexplicable, or not being responsible. As Ludwig AI highlights, this word denotes a lack of rational explanation or answerability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Unaccountable" is a versatile adjective used to describe something or someone that isn't answerable, explainable, or responsible. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. As evidenced by the numerous examples found in news, business, and academic sources, the term sees frequent use when criticizing lack of responsibility or when there's a lack of transparency. When using "unaccountable", it's best to ensure that the context aligns with this meaning and isn't better served by terms like "irresponsible" or "inexplicable". Overall, "unaccountable" is a strong and commonly used term in many forms of media, and mastering its use will make your writing more precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not held to account

Implies that no one is making accountable a person or organization.

Not responsible

Emphasizes a lack of duty or obligation.

Not answerable

Highlights the absence of a requirement to provide explanations or justifications.

Not liable

Focuses on the absence of legal or moral obligation.

Unjustifiable

Highlights the lack of valid reasons or excuses.

Inexplicable

Stresses the inability to explain or understand something.

Without justification

Focuses on the absence of a valid reason or explanation.

Not subject to review

Implies an exemption from evaluation or assessment.

Beyond scrutiny

Indicates an immunity to examination or criticism.

Outside the system of checks and balances

Focuses on the system of checks and balances of an organization or country.

FAQs

How can I use "unaccountable" in a sentence?

You can use "unaccountable" to describe systems or entities that are not subject to oversight or cannot be held responsible for their actions. For example, "The committee feared the funds would be used by "unaccountable entities"".

What's the difference between "unaccountable" and "irresponsible"?

"Unaccountable" refers to a lack of oversight or the inability to assign responsibility, while "irresponsible" implies a failure to fulfill one's duties or obligations. An "unaccountable organization" may not be subject to any rules, while an irresponsible one neglects its responsibilities.

What are some alternatives to "unaccountable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "not liable", "not responsible", or "inexplicable". Each carries a slightly different nuance, so choose the one that best fits your intended meaning.

What does it mean when an organization is described as "unaccountable"?

It typically means that the organization lacks transparency and is not subject to effective oversight or scrutiny. This can lead to abuses of power, corruption, or a failure to serve its intended purpose. To avoid this you could push them to be "held accountable".