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purportedly

purportedly

18 7.2
People claim it is true but it is not proven
  • adverb
  • /pərˈpɔːrtɪdli/
translation icon : supuestamente
  • The litigation concerned brucellosis transmission purportedly from elk or bison to two cattle herds in 1988 and 1989.
  • purportedly objective
  • purportedly based
  • purportedly written

He, you know, he purportedly said, my God, it's Blue.

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Examples

  • There was a note left purportedly written by Aaron to you, correct?

  • The executives of Japanese corporations purportedly plan 250 years into the future.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The Carpenter is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ, who was purportedly raised as the son of a carpenter.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Most significantly, the two sections purportedly set forth an identical standard of protection for endangered species.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Then the school assignment produces a chart purportedly showing the efficiency of turning feed into edible food.

  • The Republic of Congo has purportedly suggested the possibility of a federal relationship with an independent Cabinda.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Additionally, the Pseudo-Aristotle, purportedly written by Aristotle for Alexander the Great, was an advice book for rulers.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Once again, the pluralists' purportedly "moderate" position turns out to be indistinguishable from that of the radicals.

    Academic text (1991)
  • And we'll hear testimony today concerning recent revelations about a purportedly secret UAP program, whose existence and findings may have been improperly withheld from Congress.

  • The foreign minister who purportedly signed the papers was not in office at the time.

Synonyms

apparently
vspurportedly
2.8

Something that seems true from what you know or see but may not be

is about an explicit claim rather than appearance from evidence
supposedly
vspurportedly
406 3.4

Said to be true but not certain

emphasizes an explicit claim rather than widespread belief
seemingly
vspurportedly
253 3.7

It looks true from what you see, but may not be

refers to someone making a claim rather than mere appearance
allegedly
vspurportedly
  • Literature
252 5.4

Said to be true but with no proof

is presented as claimed but may be less formally asserted
reportedly
vspurportedly
  • Literature
234 3.7

As people or the news say

centers on a claim itself rather than on reported sources
ostensibly
vspurportedly
43 7.5

In a way that seems true but may not be

is framed as a claim rather than an appearance
reputedly
vspurportedly
5 6.1

People say it is true, but it is not proved

refers to an expressed claim instead of reputation based belief
putatively
vspurportedly
  • Formal
1 8.1

In a way that people believe is true but is not proven

focuses on a claim being made rather than common assumption
assertedly
vspurportedly
7.9

Said to be true but not proven

is about a general claim rather than a forceful assertion

How Certain

apparently
2.8
reportedly
  • Literature
234 3.7
purportedly
18 7.2
allegedly
  • Literature
252 5.4

Surface Forms

purportedly positive

Morphology

purportedly = purported (transparent) = purport + ed + ly

Formed regularly from 'purport' -> 'purported' -> 'purportedly'; the adverbial meaning is the expected one from the adjective plus -ly.

Etymology

Purportedly comes from purport, which originally carried the idea 'to carry forward' and has the root port meaning 'to carry', as in transport and portable. So if something is purportedly true, it is 'carried forward' as a claim — it is 'said to be' true but not yet proved.