# supposedly

/səˈpoʊzədɫi/ (US) · /sʌpˈəʊzɪdli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/supposedly
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. according to claims

adverb · CEFR B2

used to say that something is believed to be true by some people, even if there is no proof.

For teachers: according to what is generally assumed or believed, though not necessarily true. Often used to distance the speaker from the validity of the claim.

- The new restaurant is supposedly the best in town, but I haven't tried it yet.
- The document was supposedly signed by the CEO himself, yet several board members noticed discrepancies in the handwriting style.

Usage: Typically functions as a disjunct, modifying the entire clause to express the speaker's attitude toward the truth of the statement.

## Examples

- The new restaurant is supposedly the best in town.
- The flight was supposedly arriving at noon, but the board now shows a three-hour delay.
- The document was supposedly signed by the witness, yet forensic analysis of the ink suggests it was backdated by several months.

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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.