allegedly
- 1According to someone's allegation; as claimed by a person or source, without proof that the claim is true.
The suspect allegedly fled the scene before police arrived.
Company executives allegedly knew about the safety defects for years before the recall.
Similarreportedly, supposedly, purportedly
Note
Built from alleged plus -ly, it keeps the charge-sheet flavor of its root: what someone allegedly did is usually a wrongdoing, such as a robbery or a hit-and-run spree, that is claimed but not proven. That makes it sharper than reportedly or supposedly, which only pass on what is said. It sits just before the verb of the act (allegedly rammed, allegedly involved), and the same sentence can go on to undercut the claim.
- 2According to apparent impressions or general report rather than a formal claim; supposedly, often hinting that the speaker has doubts.
He's allegedly some kind of wine expert, though I've never seen evidence of it.
The shortcut allegedly saves twenty minutes, but we arrived at the same time as everyone else.
Similarsupposedly, reportedly, apparently, ostensibly, purportedly
Note
Here the claim drifts from accusation toward reputation: a game is allegedly exciting, and onscreen tears are allegedly real. Jason Whitlock's 2008 remark that Philip Rivers is allegedly having the best season of any quarterback shows the tone, which passes on the praise while keeping the writer at arm's length. Used this way it sits close to supposedly and usually sounds a little skeptical. Unlike the accusing sense, nothing wrong need be involved.
Use it in a sentence
Write your own sentence with allegedly, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.
Origin
Formed from "alleged" combined with the suffix "-ly".