She allegedly left the country before the trial began.
A witness allegedly heard the argument from the hallway.
The contractor allegedly overcharged the city for repairs.
The company allegedly ignored repeated safety warnings.
He was allegedly seen near the warehouse that night.
Similar words
apparently
ostensibly
reputedly
reportedly
purportedly
supposedly
Meanings
Usage
Use allegedly to mark distance from an unproven claim. Drop it when the fact is established or when a simpler reportedly fits better.
Common mistakes
Confirmed facts like the suspect allegedly confessed on video misuse allegedly, because the word signals that the claim remains unproved.
Etymology
From alleged plus the adverb suffix -ly. Alleged comes from allege, ultimately from Latin allegare, meaning to send or bring forward.
FAQ
What does allegedly mean?
Allegedly means that something is claimed or reported but has not been proved as fact.
Is allegedly the same as definitely?
No. Allegedly signals uncertainty or an unproven claim, while definitely signals certainty.
When should allegedly be used?
Use allegedly when repeating an accusation, report, or claim without stating that it is true.
Can allegedly be used with proven facts?
No. If the fact is proved or directly confirmed, allegedly is usually misleading.
What are common synonyms of allegedly?
Common synonyms include reportedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, and reputedly.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
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Opal Plover
Jul 14
small spelling trap: not alledgedly. I added that extra d for years
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Solid Snail
Jul 10
In Hindi news I see कथित तौर पर for this a lot, same cautious vibe.
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Northern Donkey
Jul 4
Allegedly is such a gossip word outside news. Everybody knows what you mean and also that you probably believe it
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Swift Panda
Jun 29
for Spanish, presuntamente is the court/news one. supuestamente is more like supposedly, no?
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Lofty Hamster
Jul 2
yeah, supuestamente has much more gossip energy
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Rosy Lark
Jun 27
my teacher marked 'allegedly true' in an essay and wrote 'who alleges it?' in the margin. annoying but fair
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Cosmic Quail
Jun 27
i can never hear this word without thinking 'for legal reasons' lol
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Contribution
Cheery Llama
Jun 26
Pronunciation note: allegedly is four beats for me, uh-LED-jid-lee. The adjective alleged can be two or three, but the adverb really wants that little ed syllable
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Quirky Curlew
Jun 25
Saying it at the end as a joke is a internet thing now. 'That laptop is cursed, allegedly' reads as mock legal caution, not serious reporting. Still dont use it to throw real accusations around.
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Sleek Kudu
Jun 25
Allegedly usually points to one claim, not the whole sentence. In 'he drove away and allegedly hit the guard', the driving is being stated as fact, the hitting is the alleged part. Move the word if thats not what you mean.
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Cobalt Pigeon
Jun 23
One newspaper habit that matters: try not to make the person carry the label. 'the alleged thief' sounds like you already decided theyre a thief. 'the alleged theft' or 'police say he stole...' is cleaner.