verantwortbar

Verantwortbar is a German adjective formed from Verantwortung (responsibility) with the suffix -bar, which denotes suitability or the capacity to be affected by something. In practice, verantwortbar describes something or someone that can or should be held responsible, or that is justifiable from an accountability perspective. The term contrasts with both Verantwortung (the state of bearing responsibility) and verantwortlicher (the person or thing that is responsible).

In usage, verantwortbar tends to appear in more formal or written contexts, such as ethics discussions, governance, or policy assessment. It is often used to indicate that a decision, action, or outcome is reasonable to attribute responsibility for, or that it is justifiable given the circumstances. Common alternatives in ordinary speech include verantwortlich (responsible) or vertretbar (defensible), with verantwortbar emphasizing the facet of accountability and justification.

Typical expressions include phrases like "Die Maßnahme ist verantwortbar" meaning that the measure is justifiable or acceptable from an accountability standpoint, and "eine verantwortbare Entscheidung" referring to a decision considered appropriate in terms of its consequences and duties. The term can also appear in evaluations of organizational or legal liability, where the focus is on whether responsibility can and should be assigned.

Related terms include Verantwortung (responsibility), Verantwortlichkeit (accountability), Rechenschaft (reconciling accounts), and Haftung (liability). Verwandte Konzepte in Ethik und Governance betreffen die Zuweisung von Verantwortung, die Transparenz von Entscheidungsketten und die Begründung von Maßnahmen als verantwortbar.