Putative: meaning, definitions and examples

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putative

 

[หˆpjuหtษ™tษชv ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

legal

Generally regarded as such; supposed; alleged.

Synonyms

alleged, presumed, supposed.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
putative

Use this word when referring to something that is commonly believed or assumed to be true, but not necessarily confirmed. It often appears in legal or formal contexts.

  • The putative father of the child has not undergone a DNA test yet
  • The putative leader of the group was unavailable for comment
supposed

This word is often used when something is assumed to be true, typically without strong evidence. It can also be used to express doubt or disbelief.

  • The supposed benefits of this new diet have not been scientifically proven
  • She is supposed to be the best chef in town, but I've never tried her food
alleged

This term is suitable when discussing something that has been claimed to be true but is not yet proven, especially concerning accusations or legal matters. It often carries a somewhat skeptical connotation.

  • The alleged thief was seen leaving the store
  • She denied the alleged improprieties during the interview
presumed

Use 'presumed' when referring to something believed to be true based on strong evidence or logical deduction, although not absolutely confirmed.

  • The missing hiker is presumed dead after being lost for a week
  • The police presumed the suspect had fled the country

Examples of usage

  • The putative father of the child claimed he had never met the mother.
  • The court dismissed the case due to lack of evidence against the putative suspect.
Context #2 | Adjective

general

Commonly believed or accepted.

Synonyms

alleged, presumed, supposed.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
putative

This word is used in formal or legal contexts to describe something that is thought to be the case but is not verified.

  • The putative father refused to take the paternity test.
  • The putative cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.
presumed

This word is used when something is accepted as true based on probability or evidence, but without absolute certainty.

  • The missing person is presumed dead.
  • He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
supposed

Supposed is used in everyday language to describe something that is generally assumed or believed, often with a hint of doubt.

  • She is supposed to be at the meeting right now.
  • The supposed benefits of the diet are still under debate.
alleged

Alleged is used when describing something that someone claims to be true, often in legal situations, and it might have a negative connotation implying doubt.

  • The alleged thief was caught on camera.
  • She denied the alleged accusations against her.

Examples of usage

  • The putative cause of the disease was found to be a virus.
  • There was a putative connection between the two events.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Latin 'putativus' which means 'considered' or 'believed'.
  • It has been in English usage since the late 16th century, reflecting ideas of assumption and belief.
  • Related words include 'putative father,' used in legal contexts to refer to a presumed father of a child.

Legal Context

  • In law, the term often appears in cases dealing with paternity and custody, where someone is recognized as a guardian based on assumption.
  • Putative is frequently used to describe relationships that are believed to be valid under social norms, even if not legally confirmed.
  • It can also relate to putative damages, referring to compensation based on the assumption of harm.

Philosophy

  • Philosophers use it to discuss the concept of belief and how certain ideas can be accepted as facts without empirical evidence.
  • Discussions on putative truths often highlight the distinction between belief and reality, prompting deeper inquiries into knowledge.
  • The term raises questions about how societies construct truths based on collective assumptions.

Science

  • In scientific research, putative hypotheses are proposed explanations that are assumed to be true, guiding further investigations.
  • Putative relationships between variables require substantial evidence to support them before they can be accepted as valid.
  • The concept helps differentiate between tested theories and those that are commonly accepted but require further exploration.

Cultural References

  • The notion of 'putative truth' often appears in literature, emphasizing themes of deception versus reality.
  • In sociology, discussions about putative norms deal with what a society believes to be regular or accepted behavior.
  • Putative figures can appear in folklore, where characters embody societal beliefs even if their existence isnโ€™t verified.

Translations

Translations of the word "putative" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น presumido

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เคฅเคฟเคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช mutmaรŸlich

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ diduga

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะตั€ะตะดะฑะฐั‡ัƒะฒะฐะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ domniemany

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ไปฎๅฎšใฎ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท prรฉsumรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ presunto

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท varsayฤฑlan

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ถ”์ •๋˜๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุฒุนูˆู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ domnฤ›lรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ domnelรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ‡ๅฎš็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ domnevni

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รฆtlaรฐur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะธัะปะดะฐา“ั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒ•แƒแƒ แƒแƒฃแƒ“แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ehtimal olunan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ presunto

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,059, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.