alleged

1 of 2

adjective

al·​leged ə-ˈlejd How to pronounce alleged (audio) -ˈle-jəd How to pronounce alleged (audio)
Synonyms of alleged
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
ə-ˈle-jəd-lē How to pronounce alleged (audio)
adverb
She allegedly stole the money. [=she is alleged to have stolen the money]

alleged

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of allege

Examples of alleged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The teen, a standout player on his high school football team, remains behind bars over the alleged incident. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026 The conviction comes two years after Ochoa was charged following a report by The Times that detailed the plight of his alleged victims. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit was one of the DOJ’s most significant civil actions targeting a company over its alleged role in the opioid crisis. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit had been closely watched as one of the Justice Department's largest civil actions targeting an individual company over its alleged role in the opioid crisis. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alleged

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of allege

First Known Use

Adjective

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of alleged was in 1509

Rhymes for alleged

See All Rhymes for alleged

Browse Nearby Words

allegeable
alleged
allegement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alleged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleged. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

alleged

adjective
al·​leged ə-ˈlejd, -ˈle-jəd How to pronounce alleged (audio)
1
: asserted to be true
especially : stated in an allegation
alleged crimes
2
: accused but not yet proven or convicted
trial of alleged war criminals—R. G. Neumann

More from Merriam-Webster on alleged

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alleged

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