purport

[per-pawrt, -pohrt, pur-pawrt, -pohrt, pur-pawrt, -pohrt]

verb (used with object)

1. to present, especially deliberately, the appearance of being; profess or claim, often falsely.

   a document purporting to be official.

2. to convey to the mind as the meaning or thing intended; express or imply.

   Synonyms: signify, intend, mean

noun

1. the meaning, import, or sense.

   the main purport of your letter.

   Synonyms: gist, trend, drift, implication

2. purpose; intention; object.

   the main purport of their visit to France.

purport

verb

1. to claim (to be a certain thing, etc) by manner or appearance, esp falsely

2. (esp of speech or writing) to signify or imply

noun

1. meaning; significance

2. purpose; object; intention

Other Word Forms

• purportless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of purport¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; (verb) late Middle English purporten, from Anglo-French purporter “to mean, signify,” Old French porporter “to carry, convey,” equivalent to pur- pro- ¹ + porter “to carry” (from Latin portāre ); (noun) late Middle English, from Anglo-French, derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of purport¹

C15: from Anglo-French: contents, from Old French porporter to convey, from por- forth + porter to carry, from Latin portāre

Synonym Study

See meaning.

Example Sentences

The exhibition’s purported theme unhappily narrows perspectives on the assembled works of art, rather than opening wide their myriad readings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Among the websites is C'est La Vie, a shop purporting to be run by couple Eileen and Patrick for 29 years and based in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter - but with a returns address in China.

Read more on BBC

The organization says the legal challenge aims to “compel compliance” from the FBI and DOJ to release the purported recording of Homan accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents in Sept. 2024.

Read more on Salon

The purported officer urges military chief Jacob Mkunda to take action and ensure the country is united, and uphold citizen's rights.

Read more on BBC

It also found that people purporting to be hired staff on the website did not plan to be on the cruise, nor had they received offers of employment.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• imply 
• pose as www.thesaurus.com
• pretend 
• profess