Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense purports, present participle purporting, past tense, past participle purported
verb
If you say that someone or something purportsto do or be a particular thing, you mean that they claim to do or be that thing, althoughyou may not always believe that claim.
[formal]
...a book that purports to tell the whole truth. [VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: claim, allege, proclaim, maintain More Synonyms of purport
More Synonyms of purport
purport in British English
verb (pɜːˈpɔːt)(transitive)
1.
to claim (to be a certain thing, etc) by manner or appearance, esp falsely
2.
(esp of speech or writing) to signify or imply
noun (ˈpɜːpɔːt)
3.
meaning; significance
4.
purpose; object; intention
Word origin
C15: from Anglo-French: contents, from Old French porporter to convey, from por- forth + porter to carry, from Latin portāre
purport in American English
(pɜrˈpɔrt; also, and for n. always, ˈpɜrˌpɔrt)
verb transitive
1.
to profess or claim as its meaning
2.
to give the appearance, often falsely, of being, intending, etc.
noun
3.
meaning; tenor; sense; drift
4.
intention; object
Derived forms
purported (purˈported)
adjective
purportedly (purˈportedly)
adverb
Word origin
Anglo-Fr purporter < OFr porporter < por- (< L pro: see pro1), forth + porter, to bear < L portare: see port3
Examples of 'purport' in a sentence
purport
There is some ghastly stuff on the web that purports to give advice and ideas.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Like-for-like sales are a measure that purports to give a view of the underlying trading strength of retailers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
All it seems to do is parrot statistics purporting to show crime has improved since it took office.
The Sun (2008)
Such books purport to be works of history, yet they are rarely written by historians.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Although not a documentary, a biopic purports to tell a true story.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If you want to learn about them, read this book that purports to be a biography.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Her book purports to be a nobleman's account of his love affair with a married woman.
Pamela Norris Words Of Love: Passionate Women from Heloise to Sylvia Plath (2006)
The book doesn't purport to be a kitchen companion and culinary tips are few and far between.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I have here four letters which purport to come from the missing man.
Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
At least one local council in England is puzzled to have received a letter purporting to come from the business.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They feel betrayed by the people who purport to represent them but do so with such little conviction, skill or success.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It's an outmoded idea more often than not mooted by the media on behalf of the fans they purport to represent.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Security officials claim that doctored images purporting to show atrocities and posted on the internet helped to set off riots in Mumbai.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So it was disappointing that five big organisations purporting to represent the voluntary sector recently issued a ringing endorsement of the revised Compact.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Many activists have received messages purporting to offer an app used by the protesters, but which actually installed software that covertly monitored their phone.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Online protests include hundreds of Chinese dog owners who have bombarded social media with photographs of their pets alongside messages purporting to come from the dogs.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Or, rather, from a website purporting to represent him.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The principal purport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved on quitting the militia.
Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813)
But, with blanket publicity guaranteed, the number of those purporting to represent the men has grown steadily.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
purport
British English: purport VERB
If you say that someone or something purports to do or be a particular thing, you mean that they claim to do or be that thing, although you may not always believe that claim.
...a book that purports to tell the whole truth.
American English: purport
Brazilian Portuguese: alegar
Chinese: 声称
European Spanish: pretender
French: prétendre
German: vorgeben
Italian: sostenere
Japanese: 主張する
Korean: > 내세우다표면상으로
European Portuguese: alegar
Latin American Spanish: pretender
1 (verb)
Definition
to claim to be or do something, esp. falsely
a book that purports to tell the whole truth
Synonyms
claim
He claimed that it was a conspiracy against him.
allege
The accused is alleged to have killed a man.
proclaim
He continues to proclaim his innocence.
maintain
Prosecutors maintain that no deal was made.
declare
He declared his intention to become the best golfer in the world.
pretend
I cannot pretend to understand the problem.
assert
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.
pose as
profess
`I don't know,' he replied, professing innocence.
2 (verb)
Definition
(of speech or writing) to signify or imply
Synonyms
signify
The two approaches signified a sharp difference between the men.
mean
The green signal means that you can go.
suggest
express
He expressed his anger in a destructive way.
intend
indicate
The survey indicated that most old people are independent.
import
point to
imply
The meeting in no way implies a resumption of contact with the terrorists.
convey
denote
Red eyes denote strain and fatigue.
betoken
His demeanour betokened embarrassment at his prosperity.
1 (noun)
Definition
meaning or significance
The purport of his speech was obvious.
Synonyms
significance
meaning
I became more aware of the symbols and their meanings.
idea
sense
a noun which has two senses
bearing
My father's achievements don't have any bearing on what I do.
spirit
the spirit of the treaty
import
I have already spoken about the import of his speech.
implication
The implication was obvious: vote for us or you'll be sorry.
tendency
the government's tendency towards secrecy in recent years
drift
She was beginning to get his drift.
tenor
The whole tenor of discussions has changed.
gist
He related the gist of his conversation to us.
2 (noun)
legislative programmes whose practical purport was never very clear
Synonyms
intention
She announced her intention of standing for parliament.
plan
Her plan was to teach the children at home.
design
Is there some design in having him here?
aim
a research programme that has failed to achieve its aim
purpose
They are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve their purpose.
object
The object of the exercise is to raise money for charity.
objective
His objective was to play golf and win.
intent
a statement of intent on arms control
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aim
Definition
intention or purpose
a research programme that has failed to achieve its aim
Synonyms
intention,
end,
point,
plan,
course,
mark,
goal,
design,
target,
wish,
scheme,
purpose,
direction,
desire,
object,
objective,
ambition,
intent,
aspiration,
Holy Grail (informal)
in the sense of allege
Definition
to state without proof
The accused is alleged to have killed a man.
Synonyms
claim,
hold,
charge,
challenge,
state,
maintain,
advance,
declare,
assert,
uphold,
put forward,
affirm,
profess,
depose,
avow,
aver,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of assert
Definition
to state or declare
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.
Synonyms
state,
argue,
maintain,
declare,
allege,
swear,
pronounce,
contend,
affirm,
profess,
attest,
predicate,
postulate,
avow,
aver,
asseverate (formal),
avouch (archaic)
Synonyms of 'purport'
purport
Explore 'purport' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bearing
Definition
relevance to
My father's achievements don't have any bearing on what I do.
Synonyms
relevance,
relation,
application,
connection,
import,
reference,
significance,
pertinence,
appurtenance
in the sense of betoken
Definition
to indicate
His demeanour betokened embarrassment at his prosperity.
Synonyms
indicate,
mark,
suggest,
evidence,
promise,
represent,
declare,
manifest,
signify,
denote,
typify,
bode,
bespeak,
augur,
presage,
portend,
prognosticate
in the sense of declare
Definition
to state firmly and forcefully
He declared his intention to become the best golfer in the world.
Synonyms
state,
claim,
announce,
voice,
express,
maintain,
confirm,
assert,
proclaim,
pronounce,
utter,
notify,
affirm,
profess,
avow,
aver,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of denote
Definition
to be a sign or indication of
Red eyes denote strain and fatigue.
Synonyms
indicate,
show,
mean,
mark,
express,
import,
imply,
designate,
signify,
typify,
betoken
in the sense of design
Definition
an intention
Is there some design in having him here?
Synonyms
intention,
end,
point,
aim,
plan,
goal,
dream,
target,
wish,
purpose,
desire,
object,
objective,
ambition,
intent
in the sense of drift
Definition
the main point of an argument or speech
She was beginning to get his drift.
Synonyms
meaning,
point,
gist,
aim,
direction,
object,
import,
intention,
implication,
tendency,
significance,
thrust,
tenor,
purport
in the sense of express
Definition
to show (an idea or feeling)
He expressed his anger in a destructive way.
Synonyms
show,
indicate,
exhibit,
demonstrate,
reveal,
disclose,
intimate,
convey,
testify to,
depict,
designate,
manifest,
embody,
signify,
symbolize,
denote,
divulge,
bespeak,
make known,
evince (formal)
in the sense of gist
Definition
the main point or meaning of something
He related the gist of his conversation to us.
Synonyms
essence,
meaning,
point,
idea,
sense,
import,
core,
substance,
drift,
significance,
marrow,
nub,
pith,
quintessence
in the sense of implication
Definition
an act or instance of suggesting, implying, or being implied
The implication was obvious: vote for us or you'll be sorry.
Synonyms
suggestion,
hint,
inference,
meaning,
conclusion,
significance,
presumption,
overtone,
innuendo,
intimation,
insinuation,
signification
in the sense of imply
Definition
to suggest or involve as a necessary consequence
The meeting in no way implies a resumption of contact with the terrorists.
Synonyms
involve,
mean,
entail,
include,
require,
indicate,
import,
point to,
signify,
denote,
presuppose,
betoken
Additional synonyms
in the sense of import
Definition
meaning
I have already spoken about the import of his speech.
Synonyms
meaning,
implication,
significance,
sense,
message,
bearing,
intention,
explanation,
substance,
drift,
interpretation,
thrust,
purport,
upshot,
gist,
signification
in the sense of indicate
Definition
to be or give a sign or symptom of
The survey indicated that most old people are independent.
Synonyms
show,
suggest,
reveal,
display,
signal,
demonstrate,
point to,
imply,
disclose,
manifest,
signify,
denote,
bespeak,
make known,
be symptomatic of,
evince (formal),
betoken,
flag up
in the sense of intent
Definition
something that is intended
a statement of intent on arms control
Synonyms
intention,
aim,
purpose,
meaning,
end,
plan,
goal,
design,
target,
object,
resolution,
resolve,
objective,
ambition,
aspiration
in the sense of maintain
Definition
to assert
Prosecutors maintain that no deal was made.
Synonyms
assert,
state,
hold,
claim,
insist,
declare,
allege,
contend,
affirm,
profess,
avow,
aver,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of mean
Definition
to denote, represent, or signify
The green signal means that you can go.
Synonyms
signify,
say,
suggest,
indicate,
represent,
express,
stand for,
convey,
spell out,
purport,
symbolize,
denote,
connote,
betoken
in the sense of meaning
Definition
the sense or significance of a word, sentence, or symbol
I became more aware of the symbols and their meanings.
Synonyms
significance,
message,
explanation,
substance,
value,
import,
implication,
drift,
interpretation,
essence,
purport,
connotation,
upshot,
gist,
signification
in the sense of object
Definition
an aim or purpose
The object of the exercise is to raise money for charity.
Synonyms
purpose,
aim,
end,
point,
plan,
idea,
reason,
goal,
design,
target,
principle,
function,
intention,
objective,
intent,
motive,
end in view,
end purpose,
the why and wherefore
in the sense of objective
Definition
an aim or purpose
His objective was to play golf and win.
Synonyms
purpose,
aim,
goal,
end,
plan,
hope,
idea,
design,
target,
wish,
scheme,
desire,
object,
intention,
ambition,
aspiration,
Holy Grail (informal),
end in view,
why and wherefore
in the sense of plan
Her plan was to teach the children at home.
Synonyms
intention,
idea,
aim,
hope,
goal,
target,
object,
ambition
in the sense of pretend
Definition
to present a claim, esp. a doubtful one
I cannot pretend to understand the problem.
Synonyms
lay claim,
claim,
allege,
aspire,
profess,
purport
Additional synonyms
in the sense of proclaim
Definition
to indicate plainly
He continues to proclaim his innocence.
Synonyms
announce,
declare,
advertise,
show,
publish,
indicate,
blaze (abroad),
herald,
circulate,
trumpet,
affirm,
give out,
profess,
promulgate,
make known,
enunciate,
blazon (abroad),
shout from the housetops (informal)
in the sense of profess
Definition
to claim (something as true), often falsely
`I don't know,' he replied, professing innocence.
Synonyms
claim,
allege,
pretend,
fake,
make out,
sham,
purport,
feign,
act as if,
let on,
dissemble
in the sense of purpose
Definition
a fixed design or idea that is the object of an action
They are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve their purpose.
Synonyms
aim,
end,
plan,
hope,
view,
goal,
design,
project,
target,
wish,
scheme,
desire,
object,
intention,
objective,
ambition,
aspiration,
Holy Grail (informal)
in the sense of sense
Definition
specific meaning
a noun which has two senses
Synonyms
meaning,
definition,
interpretation,
significance,
message,
import,
substance,
implication,
drift,
purport,
nuance,
gist,
signification,
denotation
in the sense of spirit
Definition
the way in which something, such as a law or an agreement, was intended to be interpreted
the spirit of the treaty
Synonyms
intention,
meaning,
purpose,
substance,
intent,
essence,
purport,
gist
in the sense of tendency
Definition
the general course or drift of something
the government's tendency towards secrecy in recent years