allegedly

[uh-lej-id-lee]

adverb

1. according to what is or has been alleged. alleged.

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

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

Other Word Forms

• unallegedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of allegedly¹

First recorded in 1870–75; alleged + -ly

Example Sentences

He said 25,000 Americans would have died if he allowed the vessel, which was allegedly carrying fentanyl, to reach the U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A year after the attack, Mr al-Muhtadi allegedly travelled to the US on a fraudulent visa and became a permanent resident.

Read more on BBC

He also didn’t say which local officials had allegedly requested help — a claim Wiener called a lie.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The piece reported that the Hermès heir was being sued in Washington, D.C., for allegedly reneging on the deal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It is also in keeping with the Justice Department’s tradition of aggressively prosecuting government officials who allegedly mishandle classified information.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• purportedly 
• supposedly 

When To Use

What does allegedly mean?

Allegedly means according to what has been claimed. It’s used to describe an action or situation that someone claims happened but that has not been confirmed or proven, especially a crime.Allegedly is the adverb form of the adjective alleged, which itself comes from the past tense of the verb allege, meaning to claim without proof or before proof is available. Such an accusation is called an allegation.Allegedly is most commonly used in a legal context, especially in journalism in reports about a person who has been accused of a crime or other wrongdoing but who has not been convicted. Using the word allegedly allows journalists to talk about allegations without seeming to presume guilt (and getting sued for libel).Example: Mr. Jones allegedly stole from his company over a period of 15 years.