What does unaccountable mean?
Unaccountable is an adjective for something that cannot be explained, accounted for, or understood. Its usual force is stronger than merely unknown: an unaccountable delay or discrepancy suggests that no reliable explanation is available, while an unaccountable action may appear irrational or mysterious. The word is formal and appears in journalism, investigation, law, and literary criticism, though it is understood in ordinary English. In a less common sense, unaccountable can describe a person or institution that cannot be held responsible or made to answer for conduct, especially in contexts concerned with authority and accountability. This sense should not be confused with the more frequent idea of inexplicability. The word is especially useful when an absence of evidence is itself significant: it names not simply an unanswered question but a matter that resists explanation. Its negative prefix, attached to accountable, gives it a compact and memorable contrast with ideas of responsibility and rational account.
adjectiveUnable to be explained, accounted for, or understood. In a less common sense, incapable of being held responsible or made to answer for one's conduct.
- Unable to be explained, accounted for, or understood.
- Not answerable or accountable for conduct or decisions.
"Officials were unable to explain the unaccountable disappearance of the research samples."
"The final report was delayed for an unaccountable reason that officials could not adequately explain."
"The new rules make it harder for senior officials to be unaccountable for major decisions."
Add un- to accountable, and both explanation and responsibility can fall through the floor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unaccountable come from?
The word was formed in English by combining the prefix un- with accountable, which is itself built on account and the suffix -able. Account entered Middle English through Anglo-French from a word meaning "to recount," ultimately deriving from Latin computare, meaning "to reckon." Related English words including count, counter, and discount share that Latin root.
Related word forms
How unaccountable is actually used
The word is formal but readily understood. Its predominant sense concerns inexplicability, while the sense meaning "not answerable or responsible" is less common and tends to occur in legal, political, or institutional contexts.
Easily confused with unaccountable
Unaccountable describes something that resists explanation, whereas unaccounted usually describes something not yet explained, located, or attributed to a cause.