Accused: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone has been charged with a crime but not yet found guilty in a court of law.

• The accused was brought before the judge
• The police have the accused in custody until the trial

Used in a legal setting to refer to a person who is being sued or accused of a crime in a court of law.

• The defendant took the stand to testify
• The jury found the defendant not guilty

Used to describe someone who is thought to have committed a crime but has not yet been formally charged.

• The police have arrested a suspect in the robbery
• The main suspect is being questioned by detectives

Used in legal or formal settings to indicate someone who has been charged with a crime but has not yet been proven guilty.

• The accused stood before the judge, awaiting the verdict.
• She was the accused in the high-profile theft case.

Used in legal contexts to formally accuse someone of a crime. It involves a formal statement of accusation and often leads to a court case.

• The police decided to charge him with robbery after reviewing the evidence.
• She was charged with several counts of fraud.

Typically used when asserting something as a fact without providing proof. It is often employed in legal, journalistic, or formal contexts.

• The report alleges that the company committed several environmental violations.
• They allege that he was involved in the scam, but no evidence has been presented.

Used in everyday conversation to indicate assigning responsibility for a fault or wrong. It can be informal and often carries a negative connotation.

• Don't blame me for the mistake; I wasn't even there.
• She always blames others for her problems.