answer for: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral, common in legal, business, political, and moral contexts.
Quick answer
What does “answer for” mean?
To accept responsibility or blame for something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To accept responsibility or blame for something; to be accountable for something that has happened or for someone's actions.
To serve as a defense, explanation, or justification for something; to speak or act on behalf of someone else; to vouch for someone's character or actions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or core usage. Slightly more common in formal British legal/political contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties carry strong connotations of accountability and potential blame.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; a standard phrasal verb in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “answer for” in a Sentence
[Subject] + answer for + [Direct Object: e.g., actions, consequences, behaviour, mistakes]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “answer for” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The minister will have to answer for the decision in Parliament.
- As team leader, she answers for the project's success.
American English
- The board will answer for this financial disaster.
- Parents cannot always answer for their adult children's choices.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The CEO will have to answer for the company's falling profits at the shareholder meeting.
Academic
Historians debate which political leader should answer for the failed policies of the era.
Everyday
If you break the window, you'll answer for it.
Technical
The engineer in charge must answer for any design flaws that compromise safety.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “answer for”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “answer for”
- Using 'answer about' instead of 'answer for' (He must answer for his lies, NOT answer about his lies).
- Using it for simple explanations instead of responsibility (He answered for why he was late – incorrect; He explained why he was late – correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Answer for' is about responsibility and blame. 'Answer a/the question' is about responding to a query.
Yes, 'answerable for' is an adjective phrase with the same core meaning (e.g., 'She is answerable for the results').
Rarely. It is almost always used for negative consequences, mistakes, or failures. A positive use would be archiac or very formal (e.g., 'He answered for the success of the mission').
The object is typically a noun or noun phrase representing the thing for which one is responsible (e.g., actions, decisions, consequences, behaviour, a person).
To accept responsibility or blame for something.
Answer for is usually formal to neutral, common in legal, business, political, and moral contexts. in register.
Answer for: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑːnsə fɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænsər fɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “You'll have to answer for this!”
- “He has a lot to answer for.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a courtroom where a person must stand up and ANSWER a judge's questions FOR the things they did wrong.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCOUNTABILITY IS A DEBT TO BE PAID (answer/settle for one's actions).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'answer for' used CORRECTLY?