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The Latin verb portare, meaning “to carry,” was the port of entry for many an English word, from the noun portfolio to familiar verbs report, support, and transport. (The port a ship uses comes from a different Latin source: portus, meaning “port.”) Purport too ultimately comes from portare, although its direct ancestor is the Anglo-French verb purporter, meaning “to carry” or “to mean.” Today, purport is typically used when someone or something makes a claim that may or may not be true; something purported to be a fact is not at all a sure thing. The skepticism that modern purporting generally requires wasn’t present in the original verb, however. In the late 17th century, a purported claim was assumed as true as any. And three centuries before that, to purport a message, idea, etc., was simply to convey it. Purport can also function as a noun with a meaning closely related to the older verb one: it can refer to the main or general meaning conveyed in a piece of writing, in someone’s actions, etc., as in “the purport of the visit” or “the essay’s purport.”
Examples of purport in a Sentence
Nanna Heitmann, New York Times, 1 May 2025
It has long been rumored that the two did not get along, and old interviews posted online purported to spotlight steely interactions between the two of them.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
The information provided here is not legal advice and does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on any specific matter.
—Jill Jones, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
In 2024 a big news story emerged purporting to finally offer the smoking gun evidence proving once and for all that private conversations are tracked by smartphones to tailor ads to individual users.
—New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purport
Cite this Entry
“Purport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purport. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
purport
1 of 2 noun
purport
2 of 2 verb
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