putative

[pyoo-tuh-tiv]

adjective

1. commonly regarded as such; reputed; supposed.

   the putative boss of the mob.

putative

/ ˈpjuːtətɪv /

adjective

1. (prenominal) commonly regarded as being

   the putative father

2. (prenominal) considered to exist or have existed; inferred

3. grammar denoting a mood of the verb in some languages used when the speaker does not have direct evidence of what he is asserting, but has inferred it on the basis of something else

Other Word Forms

• putatively adverb
• unputative adjective
• unputatively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of putative¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin putātīvus “considered, reckoned, reputed,” equivalent to putāt(us) (past participle of putāre “to think, consider, reckon,” originally “to prune (trees), clean (wool)” + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of putative¹

C15: from Late Latin putātīvus supposed, from Latin putāre to consider

Example Sentences

The answer is because the Democratic left wants to force businesses to disclose publicly their putative climate risks and CO2 emissions.

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Among other things, the legislation scales back a requirement that companies publish detailed reports about their putative climate impact, and a separate law making companies legally liable for “environmental impacts” anywhere along their supply chains.

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Perhaps the largest events were the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resignation, a putative victory for democracy and constitutionalism.

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The putative legal challenge is based on a series of judgements by various United Nations bodies that the Chagos Islands belong to Mauritius.

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The fact that Duffy is wasting his time by making these threats and combing through awarded contracts to ferret out such putative violations is, however, a settled question: Of course he is.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• presumed www.thesaurus.com
• presumptive 
• reputed 
• supposed