allegation

[ al-i-gey-shuhn ]

See synonyms for allegation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of alleging; affirmation.
an assertion made with little or no proof.

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.

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

Other words for allegation

1, 2	charge, accusation; claim, contention

See synonyms for allegation on Thesaurus.com

Other words from allegation

mis·al·le·ga·tion, noun
non·al·le·ga·tion, noun
pre·al·le·ga·tion, noun
re·al·le·ga·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use allegation in a sentence

Allegations of transphobia are not new in the world of gay online dating.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem | David Levesley | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
When I put their allegations to Epstein, he denied them and went into overdrive.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 | Vicky Ward | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
The claim is one of a series of allegations made in a controversial documentary that the BBC has now pulled.
Pulled Documentary Says William Felt ‘Used’ by Charles’ Push for Camilla | Tom Sykes | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
When it comes to the increasing number of rape allegations leveled at Bill Cosby, the smoke is becoming impenetrable.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014  | Kevin Fallon | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And yet, a dossier of allegations involving human rights could not help any cardinal at a moment like that.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF | Jason Berry | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

She, of course, made all sorts of wild allegations, but in none of them did we find any basis of fact.
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux
Following these sensational allegations, four men were arrested.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents | Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
You bandy contradictory allegations; you no longer believe each other; you must appeal to a third party.
The Petty Troubles of Married Life, Complete | Honore de Balzac
There was probably considerable ground for all the allegations, except, perhaps, that of infirmity in purpose.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 of 8 | Various
At last (in 1592) the Queen appointed two members of her Privy Council to inquire into the particulars of his allegations.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport Adams

British Dictionary definitions for allegation

allegation

/ (ˌælɪˈɡeɪʃən) /

noun

the act of alleging
an unproved statement or assertion, esp one in an accusation

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse