Putative is almost always used in front of a noun, the modified noun being that which is assumed or supposed to be. The putative cause of a death, for example, is the one widely believed to have caused it, even when it hasn't been proven or made certain. However, one does not say "the cause was putative."
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There's no need to make assumptions about the root behind putative; scholars are quite certain the word comes from Latin putatus, the past participle of the verb putare, which means "to consider" or "to think." Putative has been part of English since the 15th century, and it often shows up in legal contexts. For instance, a "putative marriage" is one that is believed to be legal by at least one of the parties involved. When that trusting person finds out that his or her marriage is not sanctioned by law, other putare derivatives, such as dispute,disreputable,reputed,imputation, and deputy, may come into play.
This has always been a nation willing to sell out its past for putative progress. Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 3 June 2002The putative champions of liberty took up the cry of dissent only after it had become profitable and safe … Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, June 2000Back in Hollywood in a few weeks, I was discouraged to find yet another putative director wandering about in the Cowan offices, also unpaid. Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987 the putative reason for her dismissal was poor job performance
Recent Examples on the WebThat leaves the putative party standard-bearers in the odd situation of making cases that many who are running in congressional or statewide races -- those who need crossover voters -- might frame another way. Rick Klein, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2022 Republicans who are unclear about this should ask the putative head of their party, Donald Trump, who placed six of his properties into bankruptcy between 1991 and 2009. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 However, any putative California ban may have to reckon with a future Republican government. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2022 And as early as the 19th century, Western scientists postulated ways to detect and communicate with putative Martians on the Red Planet. Camilo Garzón, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2022 Some hawkish commentators in the West argue that U.S. and European political elites have for too long not believed in the threat posed by this putative illiberal alliance. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 As for the 2024 general election, a number of surveys carried out this month have shown a putative Trump-Biden rematch falling within the margin of error. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 23 July 2022 Ukrainian officials have heatedly dismissed the legitimacy of any putative referendums organized by the Kremlin and its proxies.New York Times, 17 June 2022 Doing so would cost the government $373 billion, according to a Brookings Institution estimate, and wipe out the $300 billion in putative budget savings from the Schumer-Manchin deal. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Late Latin putativus, from Latin putatus, past participle of putare to think