An accountability partner is a person who coaches another person in terms of helping the other person keep a commitment. The term is a neologism and has gained relatively wide use since the 1990s. The term is often used by Christians where the accountability partner helps a person adhere to a moral commitment, such as refraining from viewing a pornographic internet site. It was originally used in connection with weight loss programs in the 1960s.
By 2016 a partner can help with multiple types of physical fitness, starting or improving a business, a business or personal project, or other purpose involving a goal.
Not having an accountable partner to help a person accomplish their goal is one reason 92% of people did not accomplish their New Year's resolution according to a University of Scranton study by Dan Diamond in Forbes and an article by Dale Tyson.