purported
UK: pəˈpɔːtɪd | US: pərˈpɔːrtɪd
adj. claimed or stated to be true, but not necessarily proven
vt. (past tense) to claim or allege something, often without proof
The word traces back to Latin proportare, combining pro- (forward) and portare (to carry). Over time, the Old French purporter shifted from literal "carrying" to abstract "claiming." The modern sense of "alleged but unverified" reflects skepticism about such claims.
The document’s purported author was later proven to be fictitious.
He purported to have insider knowledge, but his sources were unreliable.
The purported benefits of the product were exaggerated in the advertisement.
The letter purports to be from the CEO, but the signature is suspicious.
Despite its purported simplicity, the theory is deeply complex.