allegedly

[ uh-lej-id-lee ]
See synonyms for allegedly on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. according to what is or has been alleged.

Origin of allegedly

1
First recorded in 1870–75; alleged + -ly

Other words from allegedly

  • un·al·leg·ed·ly, adverb

Words Nearby allegedly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use allegedly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for allegedly

allegedly

/ (əˈlɛdʒɪdlɪ) /


adverb
  1. reportedly; supposedly: payments allegedly made to a former colleague

  2. (sentence modifier) it is alleged that

interjection
  1. an exclamation expressing disbelief or scepticism

usage For allegedly

In recent years it has become common for speakers to include allegedly in statements that are controversial or possibly even defamatory. The implication is that, by saying allegedly, the speaker is distancing himself or herself from the controversy and even protecting himself or herself from possible prosecution. However, the effect created may be deliberate. The use of allegedly can be a signal that, although the statement may seem outrageous, it is in fact true: He was drunk at work. Allegedly. Conversely, it is also possible to use allegedly as an expression of ironic scepticism: He's a hard worker. Allegedly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012