Putnam

[ puht-nuhm ]

noun

1. Herbert, 1861–1955, U.S. librarian: headed Library of Congress 1899–1939.
2. Israel, 1718–90, American Revolutionary general.
3. Rufus, 1738–1824, American Revolutionary officer: engineer and colonizer in Ohio.

Putnam

/ ˈpʌtnəm /

noun

1. PutnamIsrael17181790MUSMILITARY: general Israel. 1718–90, American general in the War of Independence
2. PutnamRufus17381824MUSMILITARY: soldierMISC: surveyor-general his cousin Rufus. 1738–1824, American soldier in the War of Independence; surveyor general of the US (1796–1803)

Example Sentences

If Americans in the late 20th century had begun “bowling alone,” the title of Robert Putnam’s 2000 book about social decline, a quarter century later they were barely bowling at all.

From Slate

Other initiatives were the subject of Join or Die, a 2023 documentary inspired by Robert Putnam’s work.

From Slate

Robert D. Putnam’s 2000 book “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community,” which surveys how Americans have become increasingly disconnected from each other with the decline of social institutions like bowling leagues, had been a big influence in Schur’s crafting of “Parks and Recreation” and Leslie Knope’s guiding principle.

From Los Angeles Times

On this, leading political scientist Robert Putnam explains in a recent interview with the New York Times:

From Salon

We talked about opening it all on a new character, a potential love interest for Oliver Putnam, and how we could show the life of a New York City actress who is so talented but spent decades hoping for something that never came — a career-changing break.

From Los Angeles Times