Reportable Meaning: Definition and Examples

Law and Compliance

• In regulatory contexts, certain events like accidents or financial losses must be reported to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Organizations often have guidelines that specify what types of incidents are reportable, helping maintain safety protocols.

Business Communication

• In business, reportable data helps stakeholders make informed decisions by summarizing key findings and performance metrics.
• Regular reportable metrics, like monthly sales figures, keep everyone in the loop and drive strategic planning.

Journalism

• Reportable news refers to events or information that are significant enough to be reported by the media, impacting public interest or awareness.
• Good journalists focus on reportable issues that affect many people, highlighting stories that need to be shared.

Healthcare

• In healthcare, certain diseases or conditions are reportable to public health authorities to track outbreaks and manage community health.
• Doctors must report adverse medical events, ensuring patient safety and improving treatment protocols.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Latin 'reportare', meaning 'to carry back', highlighting the idea of bringing information to others.
• The prefix 're-' suggests doing something again, while 'port' refers to carrying, emphasizing repeating the act of sharing information.

The term 'reportable' is derived from the verb 'report', which comes from the Middle English 'reporten', meaning to bring back information. The roots of 'report' trace back to the Latin 'reportare', where 're-' means 'back' and 'portare' means 'to carry'. The suffix '-able' indicates capability or suitability, forming an adjective that conveys the idea of something being suitable to be reported. Over time, the use of 'reportable' has become prevalent in legal, financial, and regulatory contexts, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in various sectors.