accusation

[ak-yoo-zey-shuhn]

noun

1. a charge of wrongdoing; imputation of guilt or blame.

2. the specific offense charged.

   The accusation is murder.

3. the act of accusing or state of being accused.

accusation

/ ˌækjʊˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. an allegation that a person is guilty of some fault, offence, or crime; imputation

2. a formal charge brought against a person stating the crime that he is alleged to have committed

Other Word Forms

• counteraccusation noun
• preaccusation noun
• reaccusation noun
• self-accusation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of accusation¹

1350–1400; Middle English accusacion < Latin accūsātiōn- (stem of accūsātiō ), equivalent to accūsāt ( us ), past participle of accūsāre ( accuse, -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Georgian Dream has faced accusations of democratic backsliding, drifting towards Russia and derailing Georgia's EU-membership bid enshrined in the country's constitution -- allegations the party rejects.

Read more on Barron's

The decision sparked a government outcry and accusations of antisemitism.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Below, she dives into the whirlwind of getting her first film made, accusations that she’s a “bad feminist,” critics who are pierced by her thorny script, and that viral Venice interview heard round the internet.

Read more on Salon

Ukraine has rejected accusations of meddling in Hungarian elections as absurd hysteria.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The shadowy nature of the unit and its operations have often led to accusations that its existence was illegal.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• allegation 
• complaint 
• denunciation 
• impeachment 
• indictment 
• recrimination 

When To Use

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.