putative

UK: /ˈpjuːtətɪv/ US: /ˈpjutətɪv/ ,(pyo̅o̅′tə tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pu•ta•tive /ˈpyutətɪv/   adj. 

1. commonly thought of as such:
   a putative mobster.

See -pute-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pu•ta•tive  (pyo̅o̅′tə tiv), adj. 

1. commonly regarded as such;
   reputed;
   supposed:
   the putative boss of the mob.

• Late Latin putātīvus reputed, equivalent. to putāt(us) (past participle of putāre to think, consider, reckon, origin, originally to clean, prune) + -īvus -ive
• late Middle English 1400–50

pu′ta•tive•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

putative / ˈpjuːtətɪv/ adjective

1. (prenominal) commonly regarded as being: the putative father
2. (prenominal) considered to exist or have existed; inferred

Etymology: 15th Century: from Late Latin putātīvus supposed, from Latin putāre to consider

ˈputatively adverb