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These days, someone alleges something before presenting evidence to prove it (or perhaps without evidence at all). But the word allege comes directly from the Middle English verb alleggen, meaning "to submit (something) in evidence or as justification." (Alleggen traces back to the Anglo-French word aleger, meaning "to lighten, free, or exculpate.") Our word has at times in the past carried a meaning closer to that of its ancestor's: it was once applied when bringing someone or something forward as a source or authority in court, as in "a text alleged in support of the argument." The word has also been used to mean "to bring forward as a reason or excuse," as in these lines from Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre: "I did not like to walk at this hour alone with Mr. Rochester in the shadowy orchard; but I could not find a reason to allege for leaving him."
Examples of allege in a Sentence
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025
Lizza alleged that Nuzzi had an affair with another profile subject and had offered Kennedy political advice—activities widely viewed as unacceptable for journalists.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Prosecutors allege that Kouri Richins fraudulently secured a life insurance policy on her husband's death in January 2022 and had financial incentive to kill him.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2025
Some of the United States' European NATO allies have alleged these airspace incursions are part of a campaign of escalating hybrid warfare tactics by Russia.
—Emmet Lyons, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allege
Cite this Entry
“Allege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allege. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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allege
verb
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