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.
Purportedly from a Serbian individual "supposed to live in Germany", that letter is attributed to someone who "doesn't appear to be a real person" said Mr Polak.
From BBC • Aug. 21, 2024
Purportedly named for Diana, the goddess of the hunt, it might have originated in 1930s London, where it was flambéed tableside in a most theatrical display.
From Salon • Dec. 6, 2023
Purportedly about a dismal romantic engagement with John Mayer, it is produced in the style of Mayer, dressed liberally with blues guitar noodling.
From New York Times • Jul. 4, 2023
Purportedly older breeds, he says, such as Tibetan mastiffs and basenjis—few of which were enrolled in the study—may have more hardwired personalities because they’ve been around longer.
From Science Magazine • Apr. 27, 2022
Out there, the truth is: Purportedly true accounts of alien encounters are probed in the new series “Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified.”
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2021
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.
