supposedly

adverb

sup·​pos·​ed·​ly sə-ˈpō-zəd-lē How to pronounce supposedly (audio)
 also  -ˈpōzd-lē
: as is supposed : according to what is or was said, claimed, or believed by some
a supposedly true story
a supposedly good restaurant
He had dozens of people around him, supposedly looking after him …Philip Norman
Daddy took me to the Legion, to shoot pool supposedly.Mary Karr

Examples of supposedly in a Sentence

she's supposedly too sick to come—or so she says
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the United Kingdom, someone who uttered supposedly right-wing speech might spend more time in prison than a person convicted of horrific crimes, even if the government has acknowledged the evidence supporting their statements. Abigail Anthony, National Review, 18 July 2025 Carnival Cruise Line is facing criticism after supposedly updating onboard rules that some argue unfairly impact Black travelers. Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025 There was, however, supposedly a snag: The roof was covered in gravel – an uncomfortable and potentially hazardous surface for women wearing pumps. Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 17 July 2025 And the supposedly safest and largest bond market, on which the entire global financial system rests, has been cracking for years. Mary Childs, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for supposedly

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supposedly was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Supposedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supposedly. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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