What does "answer for" mean?

To be held responsible for; to take the blame for something.

Answer for

Common synonyms include: accept obligation, accept the responsibility, account, act for, agree to, answer.

verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To be held responsible for; to take the blame for something. ambitransitive
"The mayor will be answering for his crimes for many years."
2
furnish a justifying analysis or explanation wordnet
3
To guarantee. transitive
"I will answer for his debt, if he can't pay on the day."
4
To vouch for (someone); to attest to the character of (someone). transitive
"She's known me for years, and she's always answered for me!"
5
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see answer, for.
"I don't know the answer to that, so I'm going to let my lawyer answer for me."

"The mayor will be answering for his crimes for many years."