# allegation

/ˌæɫəˈɡeɪʃən/ (US) · /ˌælɪɡˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/allegation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. an unproven accusation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a claim that someone did something bad, even though it has not been proven yet.

For teachers: an unproven assertion that someone has committed a crime or a moral error. Often used in legal or journalistic contexts to describe a charge before a verdict is reached.

- The company denied the allegation that they had treated their workers unfairly.
- The committee launched a full investigation into the allegation of bribery after several anonymous whistleblowers came forward with internal documents.

Usage: Commonly used with the verbs 'make', 'deny', 'investigate', or 'withdraw'.

Teaching tip: Remind students that using 'allegation' instead of 'fact' is essential in professional writing to avoid libel or jumping to conclusions before a trial.

## Examples

- The company denied the allegation of fraud.
- The committee launched a full investigation after a serious allegation of misconduct was made against the director.
- While the defendant maintained his innocence, the prosecution presented a series of documents intended to support the allegation that he had knowingly falsified the financial records.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.