allegation
Pluralallegations
- 1An assertion, especially an accusation, made without proof that it is true.
Investigators are still examining the allegation that public funds were misused.
The senator dismissed the corruption allegations as politically motivated.
Similaraccusation, claim, charge, assertion
Note
Police statements and courtrooms reach for this word: a spokesman reports arrests "in connection with allegations of" a crime, and a defending lawyer stresses there was "no allegation" of a long pattern of conduct. The usual pattern is allegation of plus the alleged act. The word reports a claim without endorsing it, which suits cases still undecided. It comes through Middle French from Latin allegatio; allege is its verb.
- 2The act of asserting or accusing, especially of putting forward a claim that is not yet proven.
Allegation alone settles nothing; the court still requires solid proof.
His repeated allegation of bias slowed the negotiations to a crawl.
Similaraccusation, assertion
Use it in a sentence
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Origin
Borrowed from Middle French "allégation", which came from Latin "allegatio", from the verb "allegare" (related to "allege").