accusal

American  

[uh-kyoo-zuhl] / əˈkyu zəl /

noun

1. accusation.

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accusal British  

/ əˈkjuːzəl /

noun

1. another word for accusation

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Usage

What does accusal mean? An accusal is a claim that someone is guilty of a crime or offense. It’s a less common word for accusation. To make an accusal is to accuse someone. This can happen in everyday situations or in the context of criminal justice to refer to an official claim or charge that a crime has been committed. A person who makes an accusal (who accuses) is called an accuser (especially when the accusal 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 accusal that serious, you’d better have some evidence to back it up.

Etymology

Origin of accusal

First recorded in 1585–95; accuse + -al ²