Allege
/əˈlɛdʒ/
verbIntermediate📊CommonAction
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
To claim or assert that someone has done something wrong, typically without proof.
/əˈlɛdʒ/
verbneutralIntermediate
Action
To claim something is true, without proof.
She alleged that she had been unfairly dismissed.
💡 Simply: To say something is true, even if you don't have proof.
More Examples
2
The police alleged that he was involved in the robbery.
How It's Used
Legal
"The lawyer alleged that his client was innocent."
News Reporting
"The newspaper alleged the mayor was involved in corruption."
From Old French alegier, from Late Latin allegare, from ad- + legare "to send, appoint, allege"
The word has a long history in legal contexts, dating back to medieval times.
Memory tip
Think 'a-ledge' - like placing something on a ledge (claiming it's true, but needing support)
Word Origin
LanguageLatin
Original meaning
"to appoint, to assign"
allege wrongdoingallege a crimeallegedly involved
Common misspellings
alledgeallegee
Practice
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written