Simple Definition of putative

from our Learner's Dictionary

putative

adjective

ˈpjuːtətɪv How to pronounce putative (audio)
always used before a noun
formal : generally believed to be something
a putative expert
the child's putative father [=the man who is believed to be the child's father]

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“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/putative. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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