noun
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an allegation that a person is guilty of some fault, offence, or crime; imputation
-
a formal charge brought against a person stating the crime that he is alleged to have committed
Usage
What does accusation mean? An accusation is a claim that someone is guilty of a crime or offense. To make an accusation is to accuse someone. This can happen in everyday situations, such as children accusing each other of not sharing. But accusation is typically used in a legal context to refer to an official claim or charge that a crime has been committed. A person who makes an accusation (who accuses) is called an accuser (especially when the accusation involves a crime). The adjective accused means charged with a crime or other offense. 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. Statements that suggest or outright say that someone did something wrong can be described as accusatory. Example: If you’re going to make an accusation that serious, you’d better have some evidence to back it up.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of accusation
1350–1400; Middle English accusacion < Latin accūsātiōn- (stem of accūsātiō ), equivalent to accūsāt ( us ), past participle of accūsāre ( see accuse, -ate 1) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
When you say someone is guilty of doing something wrong you make an accusation, like your accusation that your brother used your computer without asking first. Accusation comes from the verb accuse, which means to charge someone with a crime. It is important to remember that an accusation comes about when someone thinks another person has done something wrong or committed a crime. It doesn't mean, however, that the person is guilty. There needs to be proof — an investigation or trial, even admission of guilt — before a conviction, meaning the person really is guilty.
Vocabulary lists containing accusation
The Bill of Rights
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100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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Wasn't Me: The Lingo of Laying Blame
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Flavio had denied any contact with Vorcaro and, just hours before the recording was published, told a reporter that the accusation was "a lie."
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
It looked like a semantic quibble but in these circles, it was a serious accusation, one that drew rebuke even from Elmore’s husband, Ronny Fernandez, a rationalist and self-described “unlicensed philosopher.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
But the accusation included in a story on Monday in Politico led to the almost instant downfall of his campaign.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
The accusation, published in Politico on Monday, proved to be one crisis too many for the scandal-plagued candidate.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
“That is a very serious accusation, Potter,” said Professor McGonagall, after a shocked pause.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Wait, so you all covered the accusations for months.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
A spokesperson for the PM called the accusations "nonsense", adding that all policies that have been announced are "fully funded".
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
This take is ungenerous but not surprising, given that one of the timeworn accusations against Holden Caulfield is hypocrisy: This guy calls everyone else phony, but he’s just as phony!
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
“No one has a right to lob unfounded accusations without a response. Director Patel, as well as any Trump administration official, has a right to defend themselves,” the FBI said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
To downplay accusations of being an outside agitator, she ran her operation out of her hotel room, offering direction to state and local suffragists.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
