Word
putative
Phoneticspu·ta·tive
US/ˈpjutətɪv/
UK/pjˈuːtətˌɪv/
Definition
adj. something that is believed to be true or real, but has not yet been proven. You use this to describe a person or thing that is a candidate for a specific role or title.
adj. believed to be or likely to be, but not yet proven or established. Often used to describe a person who is a candidate for a position or a relationship that is not yet legally recognized.
Examples
“The putative winner of the race was disqualified.”
“The putative father of the child was identified through a DNA test after the mother's husband died.”
“The putative heir to the throne spent years in exile, waiting for the current monarch to pass away before he could claim his rightful place on the throne.”
Examples
simple
“The putative winner of the race was disqualified.”
contextual
“The putative father of the child was identified through a DNA test after the mother's husband died.”
complex
“The putative heir to the throne spent years in exile, waiting for the current monarch to pass away before he could claim his rightful place on the throne.”
Real-World Examples
“Arsenal, though, are very, very good now, and that means they could be several points clear by the time that putative Chelsea challenge emerges.” Etymology
First attested 1432, from Middle French putatif, from Latin putātīvus (“supposed, purported”), from putātus (“thought”), from putō (“I think, I consider, I reckon”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/putative