supposedly

American  

[suh-poh-zid-lee] / səˈpoʊ zɪd li /

adverb

1. according to what is falsely claimed, assumed, or imagined.

   In fact, the supposedly "simple" work of digging holes, cutting down trees, and blasting snowdrifts offered her an education of the hands and head.

2. according to what is accepted or believed, without positive knowledge.

   Next weekend it's supposedly getting a bit colder again, but I think that winter is over.

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Usage

What’s the difference between supposedly and supposably? Supposedly means according to what is believed or accepted, without actually knowing for sure, as in Supposedly, he’s bringing the cake. Sometimes, supposedly means according to what is falsely claimed, assumed, or imagined, as in The supposedly safe ride injured eight people. Supposably is much less commonly used and means about the same thing as presumably or conceivably—as may be assumed, imagined, or supposed to be correct, as in We could supposably make the trip in a single day, but that would be pushing it.  Yes, supposably is a “real word.” In a lot of cases, though, it’s mistakenly used in place of supposedly. Still, its meaning may sometimes actually fit the situation (even if the person who said it really meant supposedly). Trying to remember the difference between the meaning of the two words can be tricky because both relate to what is believed or assumed and are adverbs (they’re used to modify or describe verbs or adjectives or even entire statements). Here’s a great way to keep them straight: remember that supposably usually expresses the possibility that something might or could happen or be true, while supposedly often expresses doubt or uncertainty about something happening or being true. Some people avoid using supposably altogether, instead opting for synonyms like presumably and conceivably, which are more common—and more likely to be clearly understood. Here’s an example of supposedly and supposably used correctly in a sentence. Example: With the number of new developers we’re supposedly hiring, we could supposably finish the project by the end of the summer. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between supposedly and supposably.

Etymology

Origin of supposedly

supposed ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

If you hear that something is supposedly going to happen, it may or may not occur. If a friend is supposedly having a pool party next week, wait until you know for sure before you buy that new swimsuit. When you add supposedly to a sentence, it means you aren't sure. If a teacher says there is supposedly an early dismissal next week, it means that decision isn't final yet, but it could happen. If a singer is supposedly dating a certain actor, it isn't official — it might just be gossip. Don't confuse supposedly with similar-sounding supposed to be, which can imply a judgment.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

supposedly

Two new versions of ChatGPT, designed to be master hackers, broke out of a supposedly secure test environment and gained access to the internet.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

You know how you supposedly “can’t beat the market” over the long term?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

“Sir,” he supposedly declared, “I have not yet begun to fight.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

It’s supposedly very traditional to wear a white dress, like young women coming of age.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

They’ve been in there together since dinner, so she could supposedly take care of Lenny.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

Related Words

• allegedly
• apparently
• probably
• purportedly