arguably

adverb

ar·​gu·​ably ˈär-gyü-(ə-)blē 

: as may be argued or shown by argument

an arguably effective strategy

—used to say that a statement is very possibly true even if it is not certainly true

He was arguably the greatest writer of his era.

Examples of arguably in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest is arguably one of the gravest crises for the House of Windsor since its establishment more than 100 years ago. —Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026

So is, arguably in softer garb, the trend of trigger warnings, which—mirroring the grim cancer label on a pack of cigarettes—dull the impact of a product or dissuade users entirely by advising them that its consumption may be hazardous to their health. —Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026

In another era, Cole would arguably be the greatest rapper of his generation. —Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2026

After his death, Elvis got more famous than ever, arguably the world’s favorite dead guy. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above