Accountable vs. Responsible — What's the Difference?

Subject to giving an account or explanation.

Having a duty to deal with something.

Liable to be called to account for actions.

Capable of answering for one's conduct and obligations.

Obligated to report, explain, or justify something.

Being the primary cause of something.

Bound by an obligation to act in a certain way.

Trustworthy and reliable.

Required to accept responsibility for something.

Answerable or accountable in principle.

Required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible

Having an obligation to do something, or having control over or care for someone, as part of one's job or role

Able to be explained or understood

Being the primary cause of something and so able to be blamed or credited for it

Expected or required to account for one's actions; answerable.

(of a job or position) involving important duties, independent decision-making, or control over others

Capable of being explained

Liable to be required to give account, as of one's actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust

Obliged, when called upon, to answer (for one’s deeds); answerable.

Required to render account; answerable

Obliged to keep accurate records (of property or funds).

Involving important duties, the supervision of others, or the ability to make decisions with little supervision

Liable to be called on to render an account.

Being a source or cause

(rare) Capable of being accounted for; explicable; explainable.

Able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior

Liable to be called on to render an account; answerable; as, every man is accountable to God for his conduct.

Able to be trusted or depended upon; trustworthy or reliable

Capable of being accounted for; explicable.

Based on or characterized by good judgment or sound thinking

Liable to account for one's actions;

Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.

In honor shame culture and patronage, the patron of the entity denoted by the prepositional phrase's compliment AKA object, the entity being its client. In this context the patron is usually being described analogously to a rump state that would govern the client, functioning as though it were a complaints department and a disciplinary apparatus by getting involved in any disputes involving the client, e.g. by acid attacking its own client or by taking revenge against the client's accuser.

Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.

(followed by "to") Answerable to (a superior).

Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.

Having good judgment in decision-making.

Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.

Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.

(archaic) The individual who bears the responsibility for something.

(theatre) An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.

Liable to respond; likely to be called upon to answer; accountable; answerable; amenable; as, a guardian is responsible to the court for his conduct in the office.

Able to respond or answer for one's conduct and obligations; trustworthy, financially or otherwise; as, to have a responsible man for surety.

Involving responsibility; involving a degree of accountability on the part of the person concerned; as, a responsible office.

Worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable;

Being the agent or cause;

Having an acceptable credit rating;

Accountable means being answerable for actions and outcomes.

Yes, you can be responsible for a task but not accountable for its outcome.

Less likely, as accountability generally includes responsibility.

Responsible can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Responsible means having the duty to manage or handle something.

Generally, being responsible is seen as a positive attribute.

Yes, accountable is primarily used as an adjective.

Usually, managers and leaders are accountable for performance and results.

It depends on context; it can be positive if outcomes are good, but carries a heavier emotional weight.

Often yes, as responsibility doesn't always require you to justify or explain outcomes.

"The director is accountable for the film's success."

Being accountable is generally considered more serious due to the obligation to answer for outcomes.

It can be, due to the obligation to answer for outcomes.

"She is responsible for organizing the event."

All team members could be responsible for various tasks.