Legal Definitions - accuse

To accuse someone means to formally state that they have committed a wrongdoing, an offense, or an improper act. This statement can be made in a legal setting, such as a court, or publicly, such as through an official complaint or a public declaration.

Here are some examples illustrating the term:

• Example 1: After reviewing the evidence, the prosecutor accused the defendant of committing fraud by intentionally misrepresenting financial information to investors.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates a formal, judicial accusation where a legal professional charges an individual with a specific crime within the court system.

• Example 2: A consumer advocacy group publicly accused the pharmaceutical company of misleading advertising regarding the effectiveness of its new drug, demanding a retraction and a public apology.

  Explanation: Here, the term is used in a public context, where an organization formally states that a company has engaged in an improper act (misleading advertising), seeking a public response.

• Example 3: During a disciplinary hearing, a university student accused a professor of academic misconduct, alleging that the professor had plagiarized parts of a research paper.

  Explanation: This illustrates a formal accusation made within an institutional setting, where one party formally alleges that another has committed a serious professional wrongdoing.