alleged

adjective

al·​leged ə-ˈlejd How to pronounce alleged (audio) -ˈle-jəd How to pronounce alleged (audio)
1
: accused but not proven or convicted
an alleged burglar
2
: asserted to be true or to exist
an alleged miracle
an alleged conspiracy
3
: questionably true or of a specified kind : supposed, so-called
bought an alleged antique vase
allegedly adverb
She allegedly stole the money. [=she is alleged to have stolen the money]

Examples of alleged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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According to the indictment, Keesee committed the alleged acts of rape between May 2002 and November 2006. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status after the university declined to comply with an order from the administration to crack down on alleged antisemitism. Tobias Burns, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025 The alleged victim would post the footage captured on his phone during the incident on his social media account, also including video of him being taken to a local hospital for x-rays and further medical evaluation. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 21 Apr. 2025 During the course of the case, Grossman requested a wide range of documentation, related to OSA records, the alleged victim’s mental health, her email communication with Taylor and her hospital records, according to court filings. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alleged

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of allege

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of alleged was in 1509

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Cite this Entry

“Alleged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleged. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

alleged

adjective
1
: asserted to be true
especially : stated in an allegation
alleged crimes
2
: accused but not yet proven or convicted
trial of alleged war criminalsR. G. Neumann

More from Merriam-Webster on alleged

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