# allege

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈlɛd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #22,884

## Definitions
1. To state under oath, to plead.
2. To cite or quote an author or his work for or against.
3. To adduce (something) as a reason, excuse, support etc.
4. To make a claim as justification or proof; to make an assertion without proof.

## Etymology
From Middle English aleggen, perhaps from Old French alleguer, or from Anglo-Norman aleger, the form perhaps from Old French esligier (“to acquit”), from Medieval Latin *exlītigāre (“to clear at law”), from Latin ex (“out”) + lītigō (“sue at law”), but the meaning from Old French alleguer, from Latin allēgāre (“send on a mission, depute; relate, mention, adduce”), from ad (“to”) + lēgō (“send”).

## Easily confused with
- **Allen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allen)
- **alley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-alley)
- **Allie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allie)
- **allure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allure)
- **alleys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-alleys)
- **Arlene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-arlene)
- **allele** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allele)
- **allude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allude)
- **alleged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-alleged)
- **allergy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allergy)
- **Allende** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allende)
- **allegro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allegro)
- **Allegra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allegra)
- **allergen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allergen)
- **Alegre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alegre-vs-allege)

## Common misspellings (6)
`alege`, `alelge`, `alleeg`, `allegge`, `allgee`, `lalege`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/allege