accuser

American  

[uh-kyoo-zer] / əˈkyu zər /

noun

1. a person who accuses, especially in a court of law.

   a trial in which the accuser and accused may freely speak.

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Usage

What does accuser mean? An accuser is someone who accuses someone of a crime or offense—says that they are guilty of it. Doing so is called making an accusation. Accusing can happen in everyday situations, such as children accusing each other of not sharing, but accuser is typically only used in serious situations, especially when someone accuses someone else of committing a crime. The person against whom the accusation is made can be described with the adjective accused. Accused is also used as a noun to refer to a person or people who have been charged with a crime, often as the accused. In many legal systems, the accused has the right to face their accuser in court. Example: This verdict has finally brought some justice to his many accusers.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-accuser
  noun

Etymology

Origin of accuser

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at accuse, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Appeared in the May 28, 2026, print edition as 'DOJ Launches Probe Into Trump Accuser'.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Mackris kicked off her campaign with a tell-all interview with the Daily Beast, for a story titled “Bill O’Reilly’s Accuser Finally Breaks Her Silence.”

From Slate • Oct. 23, 2024

Accuser Hillary Tullin told reporters outside court on Wednesday that she felt the death had robbed her of a chance to tell the doctor off face to face.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2022

Accuser: “He doesn’t need to be brought into it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2021

He is therefore styled The Accuser; and it is on this account, that his proper Name does belong unto him.

From The Wonders of the Invisible World Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England, to which is added A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New-England Witches by Mather, Cotton