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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
Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Under his leadership, the office has become a state leader for its use of red-flag laws and championed the escalation of charges against reputed fentanyl dealers linked to fatal overdoses and parents whose neglect is alleged to have caused a child’s death.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
But last month, Lara took legal action against State Farm, alleging the company mishandled wildfire claims in the devastated Los Angeles fire zones.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
The criminal complaint also alleges that Reed committed felony after a prior strike conviction for kidnapping.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for allege
Cite this Entry
“Allege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allege. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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allege
verb
