putative

adjective

pu·​ta·​tive ˈpyü-tə-tiv 

1

: commonly accepted or supposed

2

: assumed to exist or to have existed

putatively adverb

Did you know?

There's no need to make assumptions about the root behind putative; scholars are quite certain the word comes from Latin putatus, the past participle of the verb putare, which means "to consider" or "to think." Putative has been part of English since the 15th century, and it often shows up in legal contexts. For instance, a "putative marriage" is one that is believed to be legal by at least one of the parties involved. When that trusting person finds out that their marriage is not sanctioned by law, other putare derivatives—such as dispute, reputed, imputation, and deputy—may come into play.

Did you know?

Putative: Always Before a Noun

Putative is almost always used in front of a noun, the modified noun being that which is assumed or supposed to be. The putative cause of a death, for example, is the one widely believed to have caused it, even when it hasn't been proven or made certain. However, one does not say "the cause was putative."

Synonyms of putative

• apparent
• presumed
• probable
• possible
• ostensible
• seeming
• obvious

Examples of putative in a Sentence

This has always been a nation willing to sell out its past for putative progress. —Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 3 June 2002

The putative champions of liberty took up the cry of dissent only after it had become profitable and safe … —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, June 2000

Back in Hollywood in a few weeks, I was discouraged to find yet another putative director wandering about in the Cowan offices, also unpaid. —Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987

the putative reason for her dismissal was poor job performance

Recent Examples on the Web

What about Williams’ putative second civil rights movement? —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026

During the Cold War’s first decades, the CIA’s version of these men on the spot produced a succession of seemingly stunning covert victories that created a pantheon of putative American heroes. —Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026

War warnings, policy reversals, the hunt for AI victims, more than one putative $1 trillion private company looming over the public markets – there's plenty going on. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026

The putative intelligence chief was apparently irrelevant in the administration’s ouster of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. —Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin putativus, from Latin putatus, past participle of putare to think

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for putative

• noncommutative

Legal Definition

putative

adjective

pu·​ta·​tive ˈpyü-tə-tiv 

: thought, assumed, or alleged to be such or to exist

the child's putative father

ignorantly entered into a putative marriage before the divorce from a previous spouse was final

putatively adverb