accusation

noun

ac·​cu·​sa·​tion ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən 

-(ˌ)kyü-

1

: a charge of wrongdoing

The evidence confirms the accusations made against him.

She denied the accusation.

2

: the act of accusing someone : the state or fact of being accused

Examples of accusation in a Sentence

Investigators have made accusations of corruption against a group of former officials.

The police are investigating serious accusations of wrongdoing.

He denied the accusation that he had lied to the police.

There was a hint of accusation in his voice when he asked her where she had been.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maduro has denied the accusations. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025

The broadcast of the Complément d’Enquête show, followed in the wake of an in-depth report by news website Médiapart, detailing allegations against Depardieu by 13 women going back decades, which in turn prompted further accusations. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025

The law went into effect in the wake of numerous accusations by American brands and retailers that container shipping giants had spurned service commitments and charged excessive late fees during the Covid-19 pandemic. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025

Among the trial's biggest revelations were an alleged overdose that sent Combs to the hospital, accusations of a car-bombing that left Kid Cudi's vehicle in flames, and the details of the major payout Ventura Fine received for her settlement with the music mogul in 2023. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English accusacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin accūsātiōn-, accūsātiō, from accūsāre "to blame, charge with a crime" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at accuse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing accusation

• counter-accusation
• self-accusation

Rhymes for accusation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation
• adaptation

Kids Definition

accusation

noun

ac·​cu·​sa·​tion ˌak-yə-ˈzā-shən 

-yü-

1

: the act of accusing : the fact of being accused

2

: a charge of wrongdoing

Legal Definition

accusation

noun

ac·​cu·​sa·​tion ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: a formal charge of wrongdoing, delinquency, or fault

the accused shall enjoy the right…to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation

—U.S. Constitution amend. VI

compare allegation, indictment, information

2

: the offense or fault of which one is accused

the accusation was murder