What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
accusation
Example
The police arrested him on the accusation of theft. [accusation: noun]
Example
She made an accusation against her boss for sexual harassment. [accusation: noun]
allegation
Example
The newspaper published allegations of corruption against the politician. [allegation: noun]
Example
He denied the allegations of cheating on the exam. [allegation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Allegation is more commonly used than accusation in everyday language, especially in British English. However, accusation is more commonly used in legal or official contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between accusation and allegation?
Accusation is more formal and often used in legal or official contexts, while allegation is more informal and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
