putative

[pyoo-tuh-tiv]

adjective

commonly regarded as such; reputed; supposed: the putative boss of the mob.

Origin of putative

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin putātīvus reputed, equivalent to putāt(us) (past participle of putāre to think, consider, reckon, orig. to clean, prune) + -īvus -ive

Related formspu·ta·tive·ly, adverbun·pu·ta·tive, adjectiveun·pu·ta·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for putatively

Contemporary Examples of putatively

Yogurt is a putatively healthy product, and people in these parts are obsessed with fitness and nutrition.
Frozen-Yogurt Shops Are Everywhere, but We Are Nowhere Near Saturation
Daniel Gross
July 19, 2013
A putatively independent website promoting his candidacy was launched recently by Trump Organization executive Michael Cohen.
Donald Trump's Platform for President in 2012
Lloyd Grove
January 10, 2011
One answer: In these putatively private matters people constantly reference public standards.
Are the Glory Days of Fatherhood Over?
Michael Lewis
June 20, 2009

Historical Examples of putatively

The necklace had, in fact, made no end of trouble for several hundred putatively innocent and guileless passengers.
The Bandbox
Louis Joseph Vance

British Dictionary definitions for putatively

putative

adjective

(prenominal) commonly regarded as beingthe putative father
(prenominal) considered to exist or have existed; inferred
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

Derived Formsputatively, adverb

Word Origin for putative

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for putatively

putative

adj.

early 15c., from Middle French putatif, from Late Latin putativus "supposed," from Latin putat-, past participle stem of putare "to judge, suppose, believe, suspect," originally "to clean, trim, prune" (see pave). At first especially in putative marriage, one which, though legally invalid, was contracted in good faith by at least one party. Related: Putatively.