Supposedly
Academic discourse marker used to connect ideas
Use `supposedly` to share unconfirmed information while protecting your reputation for accuracy.
15秒でわかる
- Used for information you haven't personally verified yet.
- Acts as a 'safety net' to avoid being wrong.
- Common in news, gossip, and professional hedging.
意味
You use this word when you've heard something is true, but you haven't seen the proof yourself. It is like saying 'that is what they say, but I am not 100% sure.'
主な例文
3 / 6Gossiping about a new business
Supposedly, that new Italian restaurant has a secret menu.
Supposedly, that new Italian restaurant has a secret menu.
Discussing a coworker's status
She is supposedly leaving the company at the end of the month.
She is supposedly leaving the company at the end of the month.
Texting about a delayed event
The concert is supposedly starting an hour late tonight.
The concert is supposedly starting an hour late tonight.
文化的背景
The word reflects a Western cultural emphasis on skepticism and the need to verify sources. It became particularly popular in 20th-century journalism as a way to report on claims without accepting legal liability for their truth. In modern social media, it is often used with a touch of irony or sarcasm.
The Sarcasm Shortcut
If you emphasize the word `supposedly` heavily, it almost always means you think the claim is a total lie.
Don't Overuse It
Using it too much in one conversation can make you sound like you don't trust anyone or anything.
15秒でわかる
- Used for information you haven't personally verified yet.
- Acts as a 'safety net' to avoid being wrong.
- Common in news, gossip, and professional hedging.
What It Means
Supposedly is your ultimate verbal safety net. It tells people you are sharing information that might be true. However, you are not willing to bet your life on it. It shifts the responsibility of the truth away from you. Think of it as a polite way to say 'don't blame me if this is wrong.' It is the word for rumors, unconfirmed news, and wild claims.
How To Use It
You can drop supposedly almost anywhere in a sentence. Most people put it at the very beginning to set the tone. You can also place it right before the action. For example, Supposedly, the movie is great or The movie is supposedly great. It acts like a verbal shrug of the shoulders. It is very flexible and fits into most sentence structures easily.
When To Use It
Use it when you are gossiping with a friend over coffee. It is perfect for office meetings when discussing unconfirmed project updates. Use it when texting about a party that might be happening. It is great for talking about tech specs or celebrity news. If you read a headline but didn't see the source, use supposedly. It keeps you looking smart and cautious.
When NOT To Use It
Never use it for things you know are 100% facts. Saying The sun supposedly rises in the east makes you sound very confused. Avoid it when you want to sound confident and authoritative. If you are giving a sworn statement, use allegedly instead. Do not use it if you want to show total support for someone. It can sound like you are doubting their honesty.
Cultural Background
English speakers love to avoid being wrong. We have a whole category of 'hedging' words for this. Supposedly became a staple in news reporting to avoid legal trouble. It reflects a culture that values individual accountability for information. It allows us to be social and share news without being 'liars.' It is the hallmark of a skeptical but curious mind.
Common Variations
You will often hear apparently used in similar ways. Allegedly is the more serious, legal version of this word. In casual slang, people might say word on the street is. Some might use so I've heard at the end of a sentence. Each one adds a slightly different flavor of doubt to your statement.
使い方のコツ
The word is a neutral discourse marker. It is highly effective for 'hedging'—protecting yourself from being wrong by indicating the source of info is external.
The Sarcasm Shortcut
If you emphasize the word `supposedly` heavily, it almost always means you think the claim is a total lie.
Don't Overuse It
Using it too much in one conversation can make you sound like you don't trust anyone or anything.
The Legal Cousin
In American news, you'll hear `allegedly` instead of `supposedly`. It's the 'lawyer version' used to avoid being sued for libel.
例文
6Supposedly, that new Italian restaurant has a secret menu.
Supposedly, that new Italian restaurant has a secret menu.
The speaker is sharing a rumor they heard from others.
She is supposedly leaving the company at the end of the month.
She is supposedly leaving the company at the end of the month.
Used here to discuss office rumors without confirming them as fact.
The concert is supposedly starting an hour late tonight.
The concert is supposedly starting an hour late tonight.
Sharing unconfirmed logistics with a friend.
This juice is supposedly going to make me live forever.
This juice is supposedly going to make me live forever.
Used sarcastically to show the speaker doesn't believe the claim.
He was supposedly my best friend, but he didn't even call.
He was supposedly my best friend, but he didn't even call.
Used to highlight the gap between a claim and reality.
The server was supposedly fixed, but it is still down.
The server was supposedly fixed, but it is still down.
Used to point out a failure in a task that was claimed finished.
自分をテスト
Choose the best word to express doubt about a rumor.
___, the CEO is planning to retire next year, but no one knows for sure.
`Supposedly` is the correct choice because the speaker is unsure if the rumor is true.
Where does `supposedly` fit best in this sentence about a 'haunted' house?
The old house on the hill is ___ haunted by a ghost.
`Supposedly` fits here because ghost stories are unverified claims or legends.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality and Certainty Scale
Used for casual gossip and texts.
Supposedly he's dating her.
Standard use for unverified news.
The train is supposedly delayed.
Used in reports to hedge claims.
The funds were supposedly allocated.
When to use Supposedly
Office Rumors
Supposedly we're getting bonuses!
Tech Specs
This battery supposedly lasts 3 days.
Sarcasm
He's supposedly the 'expert' here.
News Updates
The road is supposedly closed.
よくある質問
10 問It means that something is reported or believed to be true, but there is no definitive proof yet. It is like saying according to what I've heard.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss in a meeting or with your friends at a bar without sounding out of place.
Yes, it is very common to start a sentence with it. For example: Supposedly, the weather will be nice tomorrow.
Apparently is used when you have some evidence you can see. Supposedly is used when you are just repeating what others said.
Technically yes, but it means 'conceivably.' Most people use it by mistake when they actually mean supposedly. Avoid it!
It can sound skeptical or sarcastic if your tone is sharp. Use a neutral tone if you just want to share information.
Use allegedly for serious crimes or legal matters. Supposedly is better for everyday life and general rumors.
Yes, it is a great 'hedging' marker. It shows you are being careful not to make claims that aren't fully proven.
Not always. It often just means you are being cautious. However, it can imply doubt depending on the context.
It comes from the verb suppose, meaning to assume. Adding the suffix makes it an adverb about the state of that assumption.
関連フレーズ
Allegedly
Claimed to be true but not yet proven, often used in legal contexts.
Apparently
Used to describe something that seems to be true based on what you can see or hear.
Reportedly
According to reports or rumors; very common in news media.
So they say
A casual way to end a sentence to show you are repeating a common rumor.
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