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

• apparent
• assumed
• evident
• ostensible
• ostensive
• presumed
• prima facie
• reputed
• seeming
• supposed

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

Also, in the war cabinet, he’s got Benny Gantz, his putative successor, former minister of defense, and, as an observer to the cabinet, there’s Gadi Eisenkot, a former I.D.F. chief of staff, who lost his son in Gaza. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024

Similarities in outlook do not mean the members of the putative global South act as one. —Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024

His primary reference here seems to be the Times Magazine’s 1619 Project, with its charge that the putative egalitarianism of the Framers was little more than a lie. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

The putative plotline: A returning President Donald Trump ends all aid to Ukraine, tilting the military balance dramatically in favor of the Russian invaders. —Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024

That stake is worth about $40 billion, based on the parent company’s putative value of $268 billion as of year-end 2023. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

From March 15 to March 17, a putative presidential election will again be held in Russia. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024

An imposing rectory, designed by David Rockwell, rotates to accommodate the putative principal’s office and a serene courtyard where the conversations are ex parte. —Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

Dr Baltazar-Soares and collaborators found putative genetic evidence of cold adaptation that is strongly associated with the grey phenotype (Figure 1). —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

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

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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