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These days, someone alleges something before presenting evidence to prove it (or perhaps without evidence at all). But the word allege comes directly from the Middle English verb alleggen, meaning "to submit (something) in evidence or as justification." (Alleggen traces back to the Anglo-French word aleger, meaning "to lighten, free, or exculpate.") Our word has at times in the past carried a meaning closer to that of its ancestor's: it was once applied when bringing someone or something forward as a source or authority in court, as in "a text alleged in support of the argument." The word has also been used to mean "to bring forward as a reason or excuse," as in these lines from Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre: "I did not like to walk at this hour alone with Mr. Rochester in the shadowy orchard; but I could not find a reason to allege for leaving him."
Examples of allege in a Sentence
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
However, during their meeting, Saldívar delayed handing over the papers, alleging she had been raped the night before, per USA Today.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The 38-year-old took to Instagram to hit back at a comment about his father following Variety's report alleging that Marc Platt flew to New York to speak with Zegler over her politics.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Osasuna have filed an appeal to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) alleging Inigo Martinez was ineligible to play in their 3-0 defeat against Barcelona on Thursday.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allege
Cite this Entry
“Allege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allege. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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allege
verb
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