accusation

noun

ac·cu·sa·tion | \ ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən

, -(ˌ)kyü-\

Definition of accusation

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

For years, Oyub Titiev had worked in the region of Chechnya, chronicling accusations against local leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his sprawling security apparatus. — Thomas Grove, WSJ, "Russian Court Sentences Rights Activist to Four Years in Penal Colony," 18 Mar. 2019 Notwithstanding that her accusations were proven false, his children do not speak to him whatsoever. — Laura Wasser, Town & Country, "How Laura Wasser Handles Divorce," 8 Feb. 2019 Despite her accusation, Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Oct. 6. — Julyssa Lopez, Glamour, "Christine Blasey Ford Supports Another Sexual Assault Survivor In Her First Public Statement Since Kavanaugh Hearing," 12 Dec. 2018 Blasey Ford has had to move houses four times, the professor has received death threats, and has hired private security to help protect her family since coming forward with her accusations in mid-September. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "Christine Blasey Ford Is Donating Her GoFundMe Money To Sexual Assault Survivors," 26 Nov. 2018 Was the arrest of Ms. Clifford — who has gained nationwide prominence for her accusations against President Trump — politically motivated? — New York Times, "Charges Against Stormy Daniels Dismissed After Arrest at Strip Club," 12 July 2018 Society is, somewhat belatedly, starting to take these accusations seriously. — Author: Carolyn Hax, Anchorage Daily News, "Carolyn Hax: Want to make sexism obsolete? Start with the kids.," 25 June 2018 Former GBI Special Agent Samuel Beaty, who interviewed Vaughn in 2008, testified Monday that he was largely unmoved by his story and unable to corroborate any of his accusations. — Christian Boone, ajc, "Old doubts quashed, new ones raised as cold case killing goes to jury," 25 June 2018 Levitt found 35 total credible accusations between 2000 and 2014, constituting a few hundred ballots at most. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "There’s election fraud in North Carolina. That’s not the same thing as voter fraud.," 11 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accusation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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accusations are flying

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Last Updated

12 Apr 2019

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The first known use of accusation was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for accusation

accusation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of accusation

: a claim that someone has done something wrong or illegal : a charge that someone has committed a fault or crime

See the full definition for accusation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

accusation

noun

ac·cu·sa·tion | \ ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən

Kids Definition of accusation

: a claim that someone has done something bad or illegal

accusation

noun

ac·cu·sa·tion | \ ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən

Legal Definition of accusation

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