alleged

adjective

al·​leged ə-ˈlejd  -ˈle-jəd 

1

: accused but not proven or convicted

an alleged burglar

2

: asserted to be true or to exist

an alleged miracle

an alleged conspiracy

3

: questionably true or of a specified kind : supposed, so-called

bought an alleged antique vase

allegedly

ə-ˈle-jəd-lē 

adverb

She allegedly stole the money. [=she is alleged to have stolen the money]

Examples of alleged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the alleged incident, Combs threw a hanger at Morgan, later paying a settlement after the fact. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 15 May 2025

The city has paid around $100 million to settle alleged police misconduct so far this year, with hundreds more cases looming. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025

The 36-year-old was arrested in the United Kingdom this week in connection with an alleged 2023 assault. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 15 May 2025

More details about Diddy’s alleged criminal misdeeds have come out since his arrest last year. —Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 13 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of allege

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for alleged

• dredged
• edged
• fledged
• hedged
• pledged
• wedged
• unpledged

Legal Definition

alleged

adjective

al·​leged ə-ˈlejd, -ˈle-jəd 

1

: asserted to be true

especially : stated in an allegation

alleged crimes

2

: accused but not yet proven or convicted

trial of alleged war criminals

—R. G. Neumann