# allegedly

/əˈɫɛdʒədɫi/ (US) · /ɐlˈɛdʒɪdli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/allegedly
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. reportedly but unproven

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

used to say that something is claimed to be true, even though there is no proof yet.

For teachers: used to convey that a statement is an assertion rather than a verified fact, often to avoid libel or to signal skepticism.

- The man allegedly stole the car, but the police are still looking for evidence.
- The executive allegedly diverted millions in company funds to offshore accounts, though his legal team maintains that the transactions were entirely transparent.

Usage: Usually placed before the verb it modifies or at the beginning of a sentence to qualify the entire statement.

Teaching tip: This is a 'shield' word used by journalists and lawyers to talk about crimes before a court has reached a verdict.

## Examples

- The man allegedly stole the car from the parking lot.
- The company allegedly ignored safety warnings for years before the accident occurred, though the investigation is still ongoing.
- While the suspect was allegedly seen fleeing the scene, the defense argued that the low lighting made any positive identification unreliable at best.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.