purport

1 of 2

verb

pur·​port (ˌ)pər-ˈpȯrt 

purported; purporting; purports

transitive verb

1

: to have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming (something implied or inferred)

a book that purports to be an objective analysis

also : claim

… foreign novels which he purports to have translated …

—Mary McCarthy

2

: intend, purpose

purport

2 of 2

noun

pur·​port ˈpər-ˌpȯrt 

: meaning conveyed, professed, or implied : import

also : substance, gist

Did you know?

The Latin verb portare, meaning “to carry,” was the port of entry for many an English word, from the noun portfolio to familiar verbs report, support, and transport. (The port a ship uses comes from a different Latin source: portus, meaning “port.”) Purport too ultimately comes from portare, although its direct ancestor is the Anglo-French verb purporter, meaning “to carry” or “to mean.” Today, purport is typically used when someone or something makes a claim that may or may not be true; something purported to be a fact is not at all a sure thing. The skepticism that modern purporting generally requires wasn’t present in the original verb, however. In the late 17th century, a purported claim was assumed as true as any. And three centuries before that, to purport a message, idea, etc., was simply to convey it. Purport can also function as a noun with a meaning closely related to the older verb one: it can refer to the main or general meaning conveyed in a piece of writing, in someone’s actions, etc., as in “the purport of the visit” or “the essay’s purport.”

Synonyms of purport

Verb

• intend
• plan
• mean

Noun

• meaning
• sense
• intent
• intention
• content
• significance
• import
• definition

Examples of purport in a Sentence

Verb

do you purport to spend the rest of your life on that couch, or do you think you might get a job someday?

he purports to be an expert in criminalistics

Noun

the purport of the book

The letter was not read aloud, but all present were informed of its purport.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

By this time, both Ono and Lennon had found a form of relief in primal scream therapy, the psychological methodology that purports to relieve repressed pain through its intense expression. —Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 21 Feb. 2026

Many of the polls that purported to measure opinion in swing states relied on smaller samples and weaker methods. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026

But Manhattan prosecutors said Barreto then went a step further, defrauding the state by uploading a fake deed to a city website that purported to transfer ownership of the entire building to himself. —ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

The president then typed a long list of his own purported achievements and alleged that a snide remark Maher made about him on Friday was the result of a joke going over the veteran comic’s head. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, content, tenor, from purporter to carry, mean, purport, from pur- thoroughly + porter to carry — more at purchase entry 1, port

First Known Use

Verb

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for purport

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

purport

1 of 2 noun

pur·​port ˈpər-ˌpō(ə)rt 

-ˌpȯ(ə)rt

1

: meaning stated, suggested, or hinted

2

: the main point of a talk or subject

purport

2 of 2 verb

pur·​port (ˌ)pər-ˈpō(ə)rt 

-ˈpȯ(ə)rt

: to give the impression of being

purports to be a physician