English vocabulary · C1
Putative
/ˈpjuː.tə.tɪv/ · adj.
It means widely believed to be true — but never officially proven.
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Example sentences
- The putative leader — no vote behind him.
- She's the putative heir; the will unclear.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- put — think (from Latin)
- ative — based on (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- SUPPOSED — widely accepted, not checked (Common & Everyday)
- ALLEGED — claimed but not proven (Used in News & Law)
- ASSUMED — believed without checking (Taken for Granted)
Words with the same root
put — think
- compute — calculate by thinking
- dispute — argue about what is true
- repute — what people think of someone
Lesson notes
Putative. It means widely believed to be true — but never officially proven.
Similar words are supposed, alleged, or assumed. Putative fits when belief beats proof.
The putative leader — no vote behind him. She's the putative heir; the will unclear.
From Latin. Put means think. Ative means based on. Based on thought, not proof — that is putative.