Claims or states that something is true without yet proving it, especially used in legal contexts where someone hasn't been proven guilty.
From Old French alleger (to lighten, ease, or declare), derived from Latin allegare. The word shifted to mean 'to assert' in legal language.
In news writing, 'allegedly' is a crucial word—journalists use it to protect themselves legally while reporting accusations, which is why you'll see it constantly in crime stories before someone is convicted!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.