purport

1 of 2

verb

pur·​port (ˌ)pər-ˈpȯrt 

purported; purporting; purports

transitive verb

1

: to have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming (something implied or inferred)

a book that purports to be an objective analysis

also : claim

foreign novels which he purports to have translated

—Mary McCarthy

2

: intend, purpose

purport

2 of 2

noun

pur·​port ˈpər-ˌpȯrt 

: meaning conveyed, professed, or implied : import

also : substance, gist

Did you know?

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.”

Synonyms

Verb

• aim
• allow [chiefly Southern & Midland]
• aspire
• calculate
• contemplate
• design
• go [chiefly Southern & Midland]
• intend
• look
• mean
• meditate
• plan
• propose
• purpose

Noun

• content
• denotation
• drift
• import
• intent
• intention
• meaning
• sense
• significance
• signification

Examples of purport in a Sentence

Verb

do you purport to spend the rest of your life on that couch, or do you think you might get a job someday?

he purports to be an expert in criminalistics

Noun

the purport of the book

The letter was not read aloud, but all present were informed of its purport.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Post has received anonymous calls from someone purporting to be the artist. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

For example, a video circulating on social media falsely purports to show a Haitian immigrant claiming to have voted multiple times in Georgia was blamed on Russians, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

Driving the news: Two videos circulating online purported to be from the FBI, the agency said on Tuesday. —April Rubin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

However, that is easier said than done, as in order to make the TCJA permanent, doing so, in its most general terms, would require creating additional revenue for the Treasury Department to make up for the purported lost revenue that TCJA caused under certain calculations. —Darren T. Case, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, content, tenor, from purporter to carry, mean, purport, from pur- thoroughly + porter to carry — more at purchase entry 1, port

First Known Use

Verb

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

purport

1 of 2 noun

pur·​port ˈpər-ˌpō(ə)rt 

-ˌpȯ(ə)rt

1

: meaning stated, suggested, or hinted

2

: the main point of a talk or subject

purport

2 of 2 verb

pur·​port (ˌ)pər-ˈpō(ə)rt 

-ˈpȯ(ə)rt

: to give the impression of being

purports to be a physician