# allege

/əˈɫɛdʒ/ (US) · /ɐlˈɛdʒ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/allege
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

to say that someone did something wrong or illegal without having proof yet. You use this when a claim is serious but not yet decided by a court.

For teachers: to assert that someone has committed an illegal or wrong act, typically without offering proof. Transitive; often used in legal or journalistic contexts to avoid libel before a verdict is reached.

## Examples

- The neighbors allege that he stole the bicycle.
- The lawsuit continues to allege that the company knowingly ignored safety warnings before the accident occurred.
- While the prosecution may allege that the defendant acted with premeditation, they must still provide physical evidence to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They allege him of the crime" but "They allege that he committed the crime" — Allege is not followed by 'of'; it requires a 'that' clause or a direct object representing the claim.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and often takes a 'that' clause or an infinitive phrase.

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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.