purportedly

adverb

pur·​port·​ed·​ly (ˌ)pər-ˈpȯr-təd-lē How to pronounce purportedly (audio)

Examples of purportedly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2019 and 2020, Telford allegedly filed five false federal tax returns claiming $6.2 million in refunds purportedly owed by the IRS. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 July 2025 Austin chosen as Republic of Texas capital (1839): A wilderness hamlet formerly named Waterloo, planted on a bluff above the Colorado River, Austin made an unlikely site for a national, much less a purportedly imperial capital. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Both companies were listed as outpatient treatment centers that purportedly provided treatment services for people suffering from addiction to drugs and alcohol, according to court papers. Ryan Lucas, NPR, 30 June 2025 Authorities said the surviving victim purportedly yelled a taunt that is offensive to Sureños gang members at the suspects, who were wearing blue and making gang signs. Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for purportedly

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purportedly was in 1942

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Cite this Entry

“Purportedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purportedly. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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