purportedly

American  

[per-pawr-tid-lee] / pərˈpɔr tɪd li /

adverb

1. according to what is or has been claimed, reputed, or asserted; allegedly.

   The upcoming version of the tablet will purportedly feature a brand new processor, but no other details are yet known.

   The defendant has not listed the brokers and valuation professionals with whom he purportedly consulted, nor has he told us the questions that he purportedly asked them.

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Etymology

Origin of purportedly

purported ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

That suggests Iran might instead have adapted one of its purportedly civilian space launchers for military purposes, said Fabian Hinz, an independent missile analyst.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

The message, purportedly from the North Korea athletics association's general secretary, thanked "all the Elite Marathoners and Amateur Runners of the world who are interested in Pyongyang International Marathon".

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

It dug into the fraud that purportedly precedes the fleecing of U.S. antipoverty programs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

The intent is purportedly “to strengthen our footing and sharpen our focus on delivering the distinctive journalism that sets The Post apart and, most importantly, engages our customers.”

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026

The Neylan board’s first case involved a former Los Alamos chemist named Robert Hurley, who had fallen under suspicion because his Latvian-born wife purportedly had leftist sympathies.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• allegedly
• apparently
• probably