assumed

American  

[uh-soomd] / əˈsumd /

adjective

1. adopted in order to deceive; fictitious; pretended; feigned.

   an assumed name; an assumed air of humility.

2. taken for granted; supposed.

   His assumed innocence proved untrue.

3. usurped.

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assumed British  

/ əˈsjuːmd /

adjective

1. false; fictitious

   an assumed name

2. taken for granted

   an assumed result

3. usurped; arrogated

   an assumed authority

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Other Word Forms

• assumedly adverb
• nonassumed adjective
• self-assumed adjective
• unassumed adjective
• well-assumed adjective

Etymology

Origin of assumed

First recorded in 1615–25; assume + -ed ²

Explanation

When something is described as assumed, it's fake. An assumed name is made up, often to hide a true identity. If you're living under an assumed name, you've taken on a new, fictitious name to disguise yourself or simply to start over as a new person — to give yourself an assumed identity. An assumed facial expression is false, and an assumed address isn't your real one. The adjective assumed comes from the meaning of assume that's "take on or adopt, often falsely," from the Latin assumere, "to take up."

Example Sentences

He said Miller had assumed hydraulics would prevent movement of the grabber assembly.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

She writes, “I wondered why he’d chosen him, rather than Leila, as his focus,” and guessed at how Jim might work with women based on this first film: “I assumed wrong.”

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

If genetics plays a larger role than assumed, it strengthens the case for searching for specific genes that influence lifespan.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

He had assumed the name of Zac Ismailov, an oligarch’s son who was due to inherit his father’s millions, and gone into business with Mr. Shamji.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

He assumed Merrill Lynch had taken its assigned place at the end of the chain.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• accepted
• granted
• presumed