allegation

noun

al·le·ga·tion | \ ˌa-li-ˈgā-shən

Definition of allegation

1 : the act of alleging something

2 : a positive assertion especially of misconduct Some former colleagues have made serious allegations against him. specifically : a statement by a party to a legal action of what the party undertakes to prove

3 : an assertion unsupported and by implication regarded as unsupportable

Examples of allegation in a Sentence

The police are investigating allegations that the mayor has accepted bribes. There have been allegations of fraud in the city government. You're making a serious allegation. Do you have any proof?

Recent Examples on the Web

Reaction to these cases, however, pales in comparison to the current uproar around USC’s handling of the Tyndall allegations. — Alex Bhattacharji, Town & Country, "Can USC Survive Scandal and Shed Its Spoiled-Kid Reputation Once and For All?," 10 July 2018 Nichols wrote Siemon on June 28 requesting a state grand jury or other criminal investigation of allegations Schuette improperly used state resources. — Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, "Snyder: Referral to FBI of complaint about AG Schuette 'a serious matter'," 9 July 2018 Brown has a lengthy legal history, including a domestic violence arrest in 2009 on allegations of beating up then-girlfriend Rihanna, a 2013 hit-and-run and a 2016 arrest on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. — Doug Phillips, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Singer Chris Brown arrested in South Florida," 6 July 2018 The article raises more questions than it answers, though Beijing’s research into laser weapons is particularly pertinent given recent allegations that Chinese military personnel have injured U.S. military personnel with high-powered lasers. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "China Claims to Have a Laser Assault Rifle That Can Set Clothes on Fire," 3 July 2018 The previous indictments against Weinstein are based on the allegations of two women, one of whom is Lucia Evans, a former actress who spoke to The New Yorker about her claims back in October. — Yohana Desta, HWD, "Harvey Weinstein Indicted on Even More Sex-Crime Charges," 2 July 2018 Pruitt has been swamped in ethics allegations, prompting him to set up a legal defense fund. — Kevin Bogardus, Scientific American, "Ethics Investigation into EPA Head Scott Pruitt Widens," 2 July 2018 Navient’s president, Jack Remondi, issued a statement Thursday calling Becerra’s allegations unfounded. — Nanette Asimov, SFChronicle.com, "Student loan servicer cheats borrowers, California attorney general says," 28 June 2018 Meticulous research to get the facts right was the only option, especially given the seriousness of the allegations. — Breanna Edwards, The Root, "Sil Lai Abrams Accuses Russell Simmons, A.J. Calloway of Sexual Assault, Slams NBC For Silencing Her Voice: Report," 28 June 2018

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