What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
accusation
Example
The police made an accusation of theft against the suspect. [accusation: noun]
Example
She made an accusation that her coworker was stealing from the company. [accusation: noun]
imputation
Example
The imputation of guilt was based on circumstantial evidence. [imputation: noun]
Example
He faced imputations of fraud and embezzlement. [imputations: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Accusation is more common in everyday language than imputation, which is more often used in legal or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between accusation and imputation?
Imputation is generally considered more formal than accusation, as it is often used in legal or academic contexts.
