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# supposedly

adverb (supposedly)

«supposedly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. According to what people say or believe, though it may not be true: «The house is supposedly haunted». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#m1)
2. As something is meant or intended to be: «a supposedly easy test». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used to show doubt about a claim: in stories, news and science («supposedly cures colds»). Helps readers notice that a fact is not checked. In media lessons: words like «supposedly», «allegedly» and «it is said» signal unproved claims. Phrases: «supposedly true», «supposedly easy».

### Examples

- The old house is supposedly haunted. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#x1)
- This cream supposedly makes spots disappear overnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#x2)
- The test was supposedly easy, but most of us found it hard. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#x3)
- Supposedly, carrots help you see in the dark, but that's mostly a myth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#x4)
- He was supposedly ill, but we saw him at the park. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#x5)
- Our teacher is supposedly from Scotland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/#x6)

### Note

Spelling: suppos-ed-ly (four syllables: sup-POZE-id-lee). Common error: «supposably» is a mistake in most uses. Similar: «allegedly», «apparently», «reportedly». It signals doubt, so a reader should ask «how do we know?».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «supposedly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/supposedly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«supposedly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/supposedly.html) on Mova free.