Allege Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Allege, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Allege?

prep. latin arguendo means “for the sake of argument”. It is used in the logical context in courtroom conversations, for example, in the sentence, “assuming ‘arguendo’ that my opponent’s contentions are correct” it is understood to mean that, ‘for the sake of arguing concerning another thing.’

History and Meaning of Allege

The term "allege" comes from the Latin word "allegare," which means "to bring forward as evidence." In the legal context, it is used to mean something that is claimed or asserted without proof. It is often used in the preliminary stages of a legal case when one side is making accusations against the other.

Examples of Allege

  1. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant breached a contract by failing to pay for services rendered.
  2. The prosecution alleged that the defendant committed murder in the first degree.
  3. The employee alleged that he was terminated from his job because of his race.
  4. The defense attorney alleged that the evidence presented by the prosecution was circumstantial and unreliable.

Legal Terms Similar to Allege

  1. Accuse - to charge someone with wrongdoing or criminal activity.
  2. Assert - to state or declare something confidently without providing evidence.
  3. Claim - an assertion of the truth of something, often without supporting evidence.
  4. Charge - to formally accuse someone of a crime or to demand payment for something.
  5. Maintain - to claim or assert something as true, often despite evidence to the contrary.