allege

verb

al·​lege ə-ˈlej How to pronounce allege (audio)
alleged; alleging

transitive verb

1
: to assert without proof or before proving
a report alleging that the company deliberately overcharged its customers
She is alleged to have stolen more than $50,000 over the course of several years.
2
: to bring forward as a reason or excuse
3
archaic : to adduce or bring forward as a source or authority

Did you know?

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

He alleged that the mayor has accepted bribes. The mayor is alleged to have accepted bribes. You allege that she stole a large quantity of money. Do you have any proof?
Recent Examples on the Web Op-Fortitude alleged in a lawsuit filed last year that Scorsese accepted a a $500,000 initial payment to personally assemble an all-star cast for Operation: Fortitude and refused to return the money after doing no work for over a year. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit, filed on March 11 in federal court, alleges that the Women's Cancer Fund raised the money from 2017 to 2022 by making deceptive and misleading claims. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024 Race, the lawsuit alleged, is why Shaw and Moss faced greater punishment. Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 22 Mar. 2024 The suit also alleges shoppers have the option of buying the bag that’s shown to them by a sales associate, without the option of any further customization. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024 Scorsese’s lawyers alleged that Scorsese had personally identified several accomplished directors who might be good for the project and reached out to them through his representatives. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 In its sweeping lawsuit filed in New Jersey federal court on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department alleged that Apple violated antitrust laws by undermining apps and products that could compete with Apple or that could make customers less reliant on its iPhone systems, such as its digital wallet. Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024 Bystanders and buildings have been struck by the bullet spray of modified Glocks, which cause a recoil that is difficult for unskilled or inexperienced users to control, the complaint alleges. Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 The December 2020 claim of voter fraud was explosive, if true: More than 700,000 people had voted twice in Wisconsin, the tip alleged. Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'allege.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alleggen to submit in evidence or as justification, adduce, from Anglo-French aleger, allegger, probably in part modification of Medieval Latin allegare, from Latin, to send as a representative, adduce in support of a plea (from ad- + legare to depute), in part from Anglo-French aleger to lighten, free, exculpate, from Late Latin alleviare to relieve — more at legate, alleviate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of allege was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near allege

Cite this Entry

“Allege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allege. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

allege

verb
al·​lege ə-ˈlej How to pronounce allege (audio)
alleged; alleging
1
: to state as a fact but without proof
allege a person's guilt
2
: to offer as a reason or excuse
allege illness to avoid work
alleged
ə-ˈlejd
-ˈlej-əd
adjective
allegedly
ə-ˈlej-əd-lē
adverb

Legal Definition

allege

transitive verb
al·​lege ə-ˈlej How to pronounce allege (audio)
alleged; alleging
1
: to state without proof or before proving
2
: to state (as a fact) in a pleading : aver
Etymology

Old French alegier to alleviate, free, confused with Old French alleguer to allege, from Medieval Latin allegare see allegata

More from Merriam-Webster on allege

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