allegation
nounCA, UK, US /ˌæl.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/ · AU /ˌæl.ɪˈɡæɪ.ʃən/
Etymology Borrowed from Middle French allégation, from Latin allegatio, from allegare. By surface analysis, allege + -ation, see allege.
1
An assertion, especially an accusation, not necessarily based on facts.
- She put forth several allegations regarding her partner in hopes of discrediting his actions.
- A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We can confirm that a 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Jodi Jones. A 45-year-old has also been arrested in connection with allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice. A report on this has been sent to the procurator fiscal."2004 April 15, “Morning swoop in hunt for Jodi's killer”, in The Scotsman, archived from the original on 03 Oct 2013:
1 more example
- Philip Miles, defending, said: "This was a single instance, there was no allegation of continuing behaviour over a long period of time."2011 December 14, Steven Morris, “Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2025:
2
The act of alleging.
- Synonyms
- accusation, assertion, censure, charge, crimination, impeachment
- Derived terms
- beat the allegations, counterallegation, misallegation, reallegation