answerability

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

an•swer•a•ble /ˈænsərəbəl/   adj. 

1. [be + ~ + to] accountable (to someone higher in authority):
   I am answerable only to the chairman.
2. responsible:
   [be + ~ + for] You are answerable for your own actions.
3. able to be answered:
   an answerable question.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

an•swer•a•ble  (an′sər ə bəl, än′-), adj. 

1. liable to be asked to give account;
   responsible:
   He is answerable to a committee for all his decisions.
2. capable of being answered:
   a question answerable by mail.
3. proportionate;
   correlative (usually fol. by to).
4. corresponding;
   suitable (usually fol. by to):
   The amount is not answerable to my needs.

• answer + -able 1540–50

an′swer•a•bil′i•ty, an′swer•a•ble•ness, n. 
an′swer•a•bly, adv.