allegation
Americannoun
-
allegations
plural
-
the act of alleging; affirmation.
- Synonyms:
- contention, claim, accusation, charge
-
an assertion made with little or no proof.
- Synonyms:
- contention, claim, accusation, charge
-
an assertion made by a party in a legal proceeding, which the party then undertakes to prove.
-
a statement offered as a plea, excuse, or justification.
noun
-
the act of alleging
-
an unproved statement or assertion, esp one in an accusation
Usage
What does allegation mean? An allegation is an accusation or claim that something wrong has been done, especially a crime. The word often implies that the thing claimed has not been confirmed or proven or that the claim has been made without proof or before proof is available. Allegation is the noun form of the verb allege, meaning to claim without proof or before proof is available. Related forms include the adjective alleged and the adverb allegedly. The word allegation is most commonly used in a legal context, especially in journalism in reports about a person who has been accused of a crime or other wrongdoing but who has not been convicted. Using the word allegation allows journalists to talk about accusations without seeming to presume guilt (and getting sued for libel). Example: We will prove that the allegations against my client are absolutely baseless.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of allegation
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin allēgātiōn- (stem of allēgātiō ), equivalent to allēgāt ( us ), past participle of allēgāre to adduce in support of a plea ( al- al- + -lēgāre, derivative of lēx law; see legal) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
An allegation is an accusation, which is sometimes true and sometimes not. If you say your sister stole a candy bar but you don't have any proof that she did it, you have made an allegation. In the legal system, an allegation is a formal claim against someone. It sparks an investigation that leads to someone being proven innocent or found guilty. In everyday use, however, an allegation is what someone thinks, whether or not there is proof. For example, if someone makes an allegation that you're a terrible driver, they might base it on their own experience, but they won't be able to prove it.
Vocabulary lists containing allegation
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
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This Week in Words: September 14–20, 2019
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Nelson Mandela "I am Prepared to Die" (1964)
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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:
Jeremy Lessen, one of Lavie’s criminal attorneys, has declined to comment on the drugging allegation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The BBC has not independently verified the allegation.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
The leader of France Unbowed, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has rejected the allegation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Richie denies the allegation and will stand trial on 17 November 2027 at the same court.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
The allegation, which was untrue, irritated the detectives into expounding very convincing denials.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
The EU had also previously urged prompt investigation into allegations of excessive police force.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Alfozan’s attorney said the allegations were “wholly out of character” and noted his client was charged only with violating a federal recording statute, not stealing trade secrets or acting as a foreign agent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Luo, who met Edens and one of the other men on LinkedIn, admitted in court to the allegations involving all three men.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Richardson was pulled from the competition on Monday amid allegations of misconduct.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
It would put an end to the continual allegations that Permian recruited players who lived in the Odessa High district.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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.
