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.
In a battle between a supposedly elite 49ers offense and an unquestionably elite Seahawks defense, there was no question which was the better operation. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2026 In 1968, two letters were sent to Jim and Nancy, supposedly written by their daughter Jane. Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026 And what about the zillions of posts, videos, and articles about the latest new supplement, superfood, or exercise that supposedly can lengthen your life? CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026 The adult day care center is supposedly housed within a run-down strip mall, occupying four commercial suites next to African Immigrants Community Services, a refugee resettlement program helping East Africans obtain public benefits. Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 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 7 Jan. 2026.

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