Accusation: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone says that another person has done something wrong, often without proof. Can be serious or less serious.

• 'He made an accusation of theft against her
• ' 'The politician denied the accusations of corruption
• '

Used in formal or legal contexts, often when accusing someone of wrongdoing without proof. Generally serious.

• 'The company is investigating allegations of fraud
• ' 'There are allegations against the CEO, but nothing has been proven
• '

Used in legal situations when someone is formally accused of a crime.

• 'He faces charges of embezzlement
• ' 'The suspect was charged with burglary
• '

Used when someone states something as true, often without evidence. Can be related to both positive and negative statements.

• 'She made a claim about discovering a new species of insect
• ' 'His claim that he was cheated in the game was not taken seriously
• '

This term is used when someone says that another person has done something wrong or illegal. It's often used in legal and formal contexts but can also appear in everyday conversations. Accusations can be either true or false and typically require evidence to be substantiated.

• She made an accusation of theft against her coworker.
• The politician denied the accusations of corruption.

This word is used when someone states that something wrong has been done, but it lacks proof at the time it is made. Allegations are commonly heard in legal cases, journalism, and formal reports. They remain as claims until proven true or false.

• The reporter's article included allegations of misconduct against the company.
• Despite the allegations, he was found not guilty in court.

This term generally suggests that someone is stating something as a fact, which might or might not be true. Claims can be about anything, from personal opinions to factual statements, and often require evidence to be believed or accepted.

• He claims that he saw a UFO in his backyard.
• The scientist made a claim about the new discovery.

In a legal context, this word is used when someone is formally accused of a crime by law enforcement or a court. It's more official and serious. The term can also be used in non-legal contexts to imply strong accusations, often of severe wrongdoing.

• She was arrested and faced charges of fraud.
• The attorney decided to bring charges against the suspect.

Use this when you formally state that someone has done something wrong or illegal. It's often used in legal, social, or media contexts.

• The politician faced accusations of corruption.
• She made an accusation against her coworker.

Use this for a claim that someone has done something wrong, but the claim has not been proven. It's usually formal and can be used in legal and media contexts.

• The allegations against the CEO have not been confirmed.
• He denied the allegations of misconduct.

Use this in a legal context when someone is formally accused of a crime by authorities. It is more serious and official.

• The man was facing charges of armed robbery.
• The charges against her were eventually dropped.

Use this for any statement that something is true, often without proof. It can be in various situations including legal contexts, but usually, it has a less formal tone than 'allegation'.

• The company made a claim that their product was the best on the market.
• She claimed she was innocent.