unaccountability
Beyond answerability's reach
Unaccountability is the state of not being answerable for one's actions or decisions.
It often describes institutional failures where no one bears responsibility: The committee's structure created a culture of unaccountability.
The word carries negative connotations—systems marked by unaccountability invite abuse, corruption, or neglect.
Protected from harm
- untouchabilityState beyond contact or criticism
- deniabilityAbility to deny involvement
- inviolabilityProtected from transgression
- lawlessnessAbsence of governing rules
exemption · protection · insulation · invulnerability · nonliability · unanswerability · teflon · privilege
Failure to meet obligations
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- neglectFailure to provide care
- laxityLack of strictness
recklessness · heedlessness · remissness · disregard · indifference · inattention · oversight · sloppiness
Lack of transparency
- obscurityState of being unknown
- invisibilityState of being unseen
- hiddennessState of being obscured
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
obfuscation · concealment · murkiness · nontransparency · ambiguity · vagueness · inscrutability · anonymity
Freedom from external control
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
- leewayPermissible margin of freedom
freedom · noninterference · sovereignty · self-determination · deregulation · looseness · flexibility · agency
immunity
Protected from harm
- untouchabilityState beyond contact or criticism
- deniabilityAbility to deny involvement
- inviolabilityProtected from transgression
lawlessness · exemption · protection · insulation · invulnerability · nonliability · unanswerability · teflon · privilege · shelter
irresponsibility
Failure to meet obligations
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- neglectFailure to provide care
laxity · recklessness · heedlessness · remissness · disregard · indifference · inattention · oversight · sloppiness · incompetence
opaqueness
Lack of transparency
- obscurityState of being unknown
- invisibilityState of being unseen
- hiddennessState of being obscured
secrecy · obfuscation · concealment · murkiness · nontransparency · ambiguity · vagueness · inscrutability · anonymity · untraceability
independence
Freedom from external control
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
leeway · freedom · noninterference · sovereignty · self-determination · deregulation · looseness · flexibility · agency · license
- negligenceneglect, gross negligence, criminal negligence, medical negligence, negligence
unaccountabilityaccountability
Obligation for one's actions
answerability · responsibility · liability · culpability · blameworthiness
unaccountabilitytransparency
State of being see-through
public accountability · openness · visibility · oversight · scrutiny
account, recount, accounts, accountant, accountable, accounting, accountability, unaccountable, accountancy