Allegation

An allegation is an unproven accusation that one person has made against another person. For instance, if someone has accused you of robbing a store you could be referred to as an alleged burglar because you have not pled guilty or been convicted of the crime.

In criminal cases the party making the allegation, which is generally the state, has the burden to prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In the United States the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Consider, however, if you have been accused of a crime by another person and the charges are not true, if your reputation is damaged or you suffer financial loss, you may have the right to file a civil suit against the party who damaged your reputation.