Allegedly
/əˈlɛdʒɪdli/
adverbIntermediate📊CommonStatement Modifier
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
In a way that is said or believed to be true but has not been proven.
/əˈlɛdʒɪdli/
adverbneutralIntermediate
Statement Modifier
It is said or believed that; purportedly.
The politician allegedly took bribes.
💡 Simply: It's said to be true, but we're not sure yet.
More Examples
2
The painting was allegedly stolen from a museum.
How It's Used
News Reporting
"The suspect allegedly committed the crime."
Legal Proceedings
"The defendant was allegedly involved in a conspiracy."
From Middle English *allegedly, from Old French *alegié, from alegier "to allege". Ultimately derived from Latin *ad- + legare "to send, to depute".
The word's usage has remained relatively consistent, primarily in contexts where certainty is lacking.
Memory tip
Think 'allegation' - it suggests something claimed but not yet confirmed.
Word Origin
LanguageLatin
Original meaning
"to allege, to claim"
Base: allege
allegedly committedallegedly involvedallegedly stole
Common misspellings
allegedelyalligedlyaleadgedly
Practice
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written