allegedly
Americanadverb
adverb
-
reportedly; supposedly
payments allegedly made to a former colleague
-
(sentence modifier) it is alleged that
interjection
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- unallegedly adverb
Etymology
Origin of allegedly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before dawn on Dec. 10, U.S. forces captured the Guyana-flagged Skipper for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran for years.
He used one law, Section 232, to impose tariffs on sectors deemed vital to national security such as steel, and another, Section 301, to tariff China for allegedly unfair trade practices.
It's also arguable that the party would have a better idea of it than anyone, given the money was allegedly embezzled from their own coffers.
From BBC
A woman has been charged with animal abandonment after she allegedly left her two-year-old dog at a Las Vegas airport, police have said.
From BBC
Guanipa was initially released from prison earlier this month, but was then rearrested and placed under house arrest for allegedly breaching the terms of his release.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
