supposedly

adverb

sup·​pos·​ed·​ly sə-ˈpō-zəd-lē How to pronounce supposedly (audio)
also -ˈpōzd-lē
Synonyms of supposedlynext
: 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.
Today, supposedly sophisticated moderns have laundered Moloch’s dark faith into militarism, imperialism, and capitalism. Literary Hub, 3 June 2026 Much of the freak-out was fed by polls supposedly showing Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco atop the field. Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 Donald supposedly finished off his career three years ago by collecting eight sacks at his usual defensive tackle spot and earning both All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026 They were encouraged to purchase pricey gemstones from him that were supposedly imbued with healing powers. Marlow Stern, Variety, 1 June 2026 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 5 Jun. 2026.

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