Accusation — a claim or statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
An accusation refers both to the act of accusing and to the specific charge itself. It implies that one person publicly attributes blame or wrongdoing to another.
In legal or social contexts, an accusation does not imply guilt; it simply marks the formal or informal claim that an offense has occurred.
Author’s summary: The term "accusation" means a claim or charge of misconduct, describing both the act of blaming and the allegation itself.