accusation

noun

ac·​cu·​sa·​tion ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən 

-(ˌ)kyü-

1

: a charge of wrongdoing

The evidence confirms the accusations made against him.

She denied the accusation.

2

: the act of accusing someone : the state or fact of being accused

Examples of accusation in a Sentence

Investigators have made accusations of corruption against a group of former officials.

The police are investigating serious accusations of wrongdoing.

He denied the accusation that he had lied to the police.

There was a hint of accusation in his voice when he asked her where she had been.

Recent Examples on the Web

Three top aides were ousted about a week ago over accusations of leaking, and then the chief of staff whom the other aides accused of conspiring against them was moved out of his role, before getting ousted, too. —The Editors, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025

Porsha Williams’ birthday trip ended with a shocking accusation on the April 27 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. —Liza Esquibias, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Letitia James facing fraud accusations: There's some real smoke here Mortgages with father listed as her husband Meanwhile, James, who never married, is also accused of saying her father was her husband to obtain two mortgages in Queens as a married couple. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025

The complaint also accused Lively and her team of working for months with the New York Times to publicize her accusations. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English accusacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin accūsātiōn-, accūsātiō, from accūsāre "to blame, charge with a crime" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at accuse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing accusation

• counter-accusation
• self-accusation

Rhymes for accusation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation
• adaptation

Kids Definition

accusation

noun

ac·​cu·​sa·​tion ˌak-yə-ˈzā-shən 

-yü-

1

: the act of accusing : the fact of being accused

2

: a charge of wrongdoing

Legal Definition

accusation

noun

ac·​cu·​sa·​tion ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: a formal charge of wrongdoing, delinquency, or fault

the accused shall enjoy the right…to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation

—U.S. Constitution amend. VI

compare allegation, indictment, information

2

: the offense or fault of which one is accused

the accusation was murder