accusation

noun ac·cu·sa·tion \ ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən , -(ˌ)kyü- \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

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

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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 of accusation from the Web

The accusation is one that McCabe has denied and has never been proven.

— josh dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump assails Comey in tweetstorm, calls for ex-FBI director to be imprisoned," 15 Apr. 2018
The accusations in the report are considerably more serious and damning than the initial reporting that emerged in January.

— dylan matthews, Vox, "The horrifying sexual misconduct allegations against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, explained," 11 Apr. 2018
District Attorney Kevin Steele revealed the previously secret settlement amount in his opening statement on Monday, in an apparent attempt to suggest Cosby wouldn't have paid out so much money if the accusations against him were false.

— CBS News, "Bill Cosby's lawyer launches blistering attack on Andrea Constand," 10 Apr. 2018
Syria and Russia maintain that accusations of chemical weapons use are a hoax intended to provoke an international response against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

— tracy wilkinson, latimes.com, "Trump weighs response to suspected chemical attack in Syria, where Israel is believed to have launched a missile strike," 10 Apr. 2018
Steele said the accusation was baseless and lodged solely for the benefit of the dozens of reporters in the courtroom.

— laura mccrystal, Philly.com, "Bill Cosby jury selected: 7 men, 5 women," 4 Apr. 2018
Past abuses The accusations against Larry Winn are similar to those in a case involving Sherry May Sims in the 1980s.

— sarah smith, star-telegram, "Fundamentalist Baptist pastor arrested on charges he failed to report child abuse | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 3 Apr. 2018
Her accusations led to investigations by the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office — both of which are ongoing, according to Bustle.

— emily wang, Teen Vogue, "Ed Westwick Has Been Accused of Sexual Assault by a Fourth Woman," 30 Mar. 2018
The only thread linking Russia's series of denials is that Moscow had nothing to do with it, and that the accusations are little more than a provocation.

— the washington post, cleveland.com, "Russia to expel 60 US diplomats, close St. Petersburg consulate," 29 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of accusation

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

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