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View synonyms for allege

allege

[ uh-lej ]

verb (used with object)

, al·leged, al·leg·ing.
  1. to assert without proof.
  2. to declare with positiveness; affirm; assert:

    to allege a fact.

    Synonyms: aver, asseverate, state

    Antonyms: deny

  3. to declare before a court or elsewhere, as if under oath.

    Synonyms: attest

  4. to plead in support of; offer as a reason or excuse.
  5. Archaic. to cite or quote in confirmation.


allege

/ əˈlɛdʒ /

verb

  1. to declare in or as if in a court of law; state without or before proof

    he alleged malpractice

  2. to put forward (an argument or plea) for or against an accusation, claim, etc
  3. archaic.
    to cite or quote, as to confirm
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • al·legea·ble adjective
  • al·leger noun
  • misal·lege verb (used with object) misalleged misalleging
  • preal·lege verb (used with object) prealleged prealleging
  • real·lege verb (used with object) realleged realleging
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Word History and Origins

Origin of allege1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English alleg(g)en, probably from Old French aleguer, from Medieval Latin, Latin allēgāre “to adduce in support of a plea” ( allegation ), conflated with Anglo-French, Old French aleg(i)er, “to justify, free,” literally, “to lighten,” from Late Latin alleviāre “to lighten, relieve” ( alleviate ); homonymous Middle English verb alleg(g)en, with literal sense of Old French aleg(i)er, replaced by allay in 16th century
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Word History and Origins

Origin of allege1

C14 aleggen, ultimately from Latin allēgāre to dispatch on a mission, from lēx law
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Multiple attorneys have since come forward alleging that their clients had been subjected to hysterectomies and other gynecological procedures.

From Vox

In August 2019, the environmental groups filed suit against Bluestone, alleging excess discharges of selenium, which can be toxic to fish and other aquatic life.

In the lawsuit against the city, Taylor’s family alleged that the 26-year-old was not given any medical attention and was left to die in the apartment.

From Vox

The push to avoid simulator training led to multiple poor decisions by Boeing, the committee alleged.

From Fortune

They seek to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process, asserting that Democrats are using mail balloting to steal the election — “thwarting the will of the American people,” they alleged.

They also allege their children are not in fact siblings, despite having been told they were.

Was it, as some former employees allege, that the bosses bit off more than they could chew?

Police allege the man was in a close relationship with Kakehi and they are investigating the details of his passing.

The papers allege that Hayden escorted J.W. down a number of hallways.

Army officials also allege that he worked for ethnic rebels as a “communications captain.”

The English authorities expressly allege a deliberate purpose on Bruce's part to rid himself of his rival.

It was neither age nor sickness, as the chroniclers allege, that prevented King Robert from leading the Weardale foray.

If I am a forger or a friend of forgers, as you allege me to be, then I am unworthy to have served in the uniform of France.

The emir would bring 500 witnesses to-morrow to establish any crime he was pleased to allege.

The mere assertion of what he meant to allege must at least delay this hateful marriage.

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More About Allege

What does allege mean?

To allege is to make an accusation or claim, especially about a crime or wrongdoing. The word often implies that the thing claimed has not been confirmed or proven or that the claim has been made without proof or before proof is available.

Forms of allege include the adjective alleged, the adverb allegedly, and the noun allegation (meaning an accusation or claim).

Allege is most commonly used in a legal context and in journalism in reports about crime or other wrongdoing before it has been proven or before someone has been convicted. Using the word alleged allows journalists to talk about allegations without seeming to presume guilt (and getting sued for libel).

Example: Investigators are alleging that Mr. Jones stole from the company over a period of 15 years.

Where does allege come from?

The first records of allege come from around 1300. It ultimately comes from the Latin verb allēgāre, meaning “to dispatch on a mission” or “bring forward as evidence.” The leg part of allege comes from the root lēx-, which means “law” and forms the basis of words like legal.

Allege is almost always used in a legal context. It’s typically used when making an accusation that has yet to be proved in a court of law. In many jurisdictions, the law states that a person is innocent until proven guilty. That means that if someone is accused of committing a crime—even if the whole thing was caught on video—they’re not considered guilty until they’re convicted by a jury. Until that happens, journalists use the word allege to refer to claims about what has supposedly been done.

Allege is most often used to refer to an action done by a person, as in Police allege that the theft occurred overnight or My client alleges that the defendant attacked him. But like the word claim, it can also be used with things, such as documents, as in The lawsuit alleges a long history of abuse or The charges allege that the theft occurred overnight.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to allege?

What are some synonyms for allege?

What are some words that share a root or word element with allege

What are some words that often get used in discussing allege?

How is allege used in real life?

Allege is most commonly used in journalism in reports about crimes.

 

 

Try using allege!

Which of the following words is LEAST likely to be used to describe something that is alleged to have happened?

A. purported
B. definite
C. possible
D. claimed

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