purportedly
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of purportedly
Explanation
If something purportedly happened, it may or may not have actually occurred. If your brother purportedly knows nothing about the cookies you left on the kitchen counter, it means he claims to be innocent of cookie theft. Whether or not you believe him, well, that's another story... When you use purportedly it means you only know what you've been told, or what appears to be the case, not necessarily what the entire truth is. A dog that purportedly doesn't bite is still scary when it's barking at you. And although your friend is purportedly only joking when she says she hates your haircut, it may still hurt your feelings. You can also use the synonyms "supposedly" or "allegedly."
Vocabulary lists containing purportedly
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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Not Here to Be Liked
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The New Jim Crow
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once you respond by calling a number purportedly provided by Robinhood, you have proven that you are a real live human being, and that makes you and your phone number a target.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
Hours later, Delcy Rodríguez posted a video on X, purportedly showing the rescue of the second 11-year-old boy in the town of Caraballeda.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
Safety was purportedly the concern with Artan, whose interrogation was conducted by the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
Benz's story highlights a familiar script: an emotionally charged call purportedly from a loved one in trouble -- arrested, in a car accident or caught up in a crime -- who needs money.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
Then he offered a counter-rumor: two hard-boiled characters from the oil camps had purportedly been seen with Anna shortly before her death, and had afterward skipped town.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
