Meaning & use
putative
Last updated
UK/ˈpjuːtətɪv/
US/ˈpjuːtətɪv/
Meaning
adjectivebefore a nounformallegal
Widely believed or supposed to be so, though not actually proven.
Grammar: Always comes before a noun: the putative author.
Patterns
- the putative something
The putative father has not yet taken a DNA test.
Scientists are studying the putative link between the two diseases.
Common combinations
- putative father
- The court contacted the putative father.
- putative author
- The putative author of the poem is unknown.
- putative cause
- Researchers examined the putative cause of the outbreak.
- putative leader
- The putative leader of the group denied involvement.
- putative benefits
- The putative benefits of the supplement are unproven.
Synonyms and how they differ
- alleged
- Is used when someone has claimed something, often wrongdoing, without proof; putative focuses on general assumption.
- supposed
- Is more casual and can sound doubtful or critical.
- reputed
- Stresses what people say or believe, based on reputation.
- presumed
- Suggests accepting something as true until shown otherwise.
Opposites
Word family
- putatively adverb
- according to general belief but without proof
Commonly confused: putative or punitive?
putative vs punitive
Punitive means intended as punishment; it looks similar but has a different meaning.
Practice
The museum displayed a painting by its ______ creator, though experts still disagree about who made it.
Choose one answer.
Putative means supposed but unproven, which suits a disputed creator. Punitive means punishing, and the others do not carry this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “putative”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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