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

Hazardous pesticides — and sensitive data from customers who trusted a trio of pest control companies, including Orkin — allegedly wound up in the regular trash.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Funk allegedly fled the scene in a white GMC truck, officials said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Two Chinese nationals and two Americans have been arrested for allegedly illegally exporting cutting-edge Nvidia chips with AI applications to China, the Justice Department said Thursday.

Read more on Barron's

Another ‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ star is facing legal trouble: Wendy Osefo and her husband allegedly fraudulently reported a burglary and theft last year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday said Spain would investigate Meta for allegedly violating millions of users' privacy, summoning the company to answer before parliament.

Read more on Barron's

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.