Putative    (pronounced pyoo-tuh-tiv) adjective


Definition

generally considered or supposed; commonly accepted or regarded as such; reputed.

Main Example

  • Where, oh where, are Saddam's putative weapons of mass destruction? If we don't find any, warn foreign policy analysts, the U.S. will have a hard time winning international support the next time we wish to take preemptive military action against another nation.

    Workplace Examples

  • Oh, while you are in town, you ought to make an effort to at least say hello to Chap. As you must have heard, he is the putative boss of that huge new entity they are creating to conduct all of our international business.

  • Her plan better work. It's the putative salvation for our department. Otherwise, we'll all be out of a job!

    Other Examples

  • following an announcement that the company has new management, your commenting to a colleague: "This change might turn out to be a big disappointment. What if the new guys are just clones of the previous team that created the present mess? Still, at least there is a putative change in leadership."

  • a murder investigation that has been drawing much attention in the media: that involving Scott Peterson, who putatively killed his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner

  • the London-based Ahmed Chalabi, a putative leader of Iraq if and when that nation has free elections

  • the archaeopteryx, which lived during the late Jurassic period, putatively the first ever bird

    © 2003 V.J. Singal

    This Month's Other Words

    Apostasy and Apostate
    Atrophy
    Obfuscate
    Unfettered
    Antithesis
    Proclivity
    Vociferous

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