accuser

American  

[uh-kyoo-zer] / əˈkju 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

• self-accuser
  noun

Etymology

Origin of accuser

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accuser

An accuser can call again and again, and CPS will conduct another investigation each time.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Prudence was clearly not a priority, given that reshoots were ordered when production discovered a clause in Jackson accuser Jordan Chandler’s legal settlement that barred him from being mentioned or depicted in a film.

From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026

The Jackson estate, which is in support of the project, reportedly discovered the early draft of “Michael” violated a $15 million settlement with the accuser in that case.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026

He denied it and his mother dealt with it: She paid the bulk of the settlement to his accuser with her personal fortune.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

“Chief guardian, the accuser is the woman Vandara.”

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry