allegation

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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

See allegation defined for English-language learners

See allegation defined for kids

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 of allegation from the Web

The city's Law Department, which is fighting the lawsuits, declined comment on the allegations.

— jason meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Ex-prosecutor alleges collusion with police in wrongful conviction of Englewood Four," 19 July 2017
The civil suit, filed by the former Explorer identified only as N.C., also claims the police department attempted to conceal the allegations.

— phillip m. bailey, The Courier-Journal, "Metro Council moving on stronger reporting rules for Louisville cops accused of child abuse," 19 July 2017
The allegations were part of civil suits that International Mineral Resources filed in Washington and New York accusing the Russian firm, EuroChem VolgaKaliy, of corporate espionage.

— eileen sullivan, kenneth p. vogel, adam goldman and jo becker, New York Times, "Russian-American Lobbyist Attended Meeting Organized by Trump’s Son," 14 July 2017
Tiffany Thompson filed a police report that included allegations of domestic violence by Elliott on five separate occasions from July 17 to July 22.

— vince langford, star-telegram, "Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott bracing for ‘short’ suspension, sources tell ESPN," 14 July 2017
A second collapsed in 2014, for lack of witnesses to substantiate the allegations.

— The Economist, "A corruption probe threatens to undo Pakistan’s prime minister," 13 July 2017
But while many of these allegations are as old as porn itself—and most of them don’t stand up to serious scrutiny—there's at least one accusation that could use a harder look: Race relations.

— lynsey g., Glamour, "Does Mainstream Porn Have a Race Problem?," 13 July 2017
Lawyers for both men did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday on Shulick’s allegations.

— jeremy roebuck, Philly.com, "Contractor: Chaka Fattah threatened me to rehire his son," 12 July 2017
The allegations cover a time period from Jan. 10, 2013, through Nov. 30.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Veteran Lake County cop makes court appearance on rape charges," 7 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of allegation

see allege

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

ALLEGATION Defined for English Language Learners

allegation

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noun

Definition of allegation for English Language Learners

: a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal

ALLEGATION Defined for Kids

allegation

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noun al·le·ga·tion \ˌa-li-ˈgā-shən\

Definition of allegation for Students

: a statement that is not supported by proof and that usually accuses someone of wrongdoing

Law Dictionary

allegation

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noun al·le·ga·tion \ˌa-lə-ˈgā-shən\

Legal Definition of allegation

1 : the act of alleging
2a : a statement not yet proven allegations in an affidavit b : a statement by a party to a lawsuit of what the party will attempt to prove : averment — compare accusation, indictment, information, proof