purport

[ verb per-pawrt, -pohrt, pur-pawrt, -pohrt; noun pur-pawrt, -pohrt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to present, especially deliberately, the appearance of being; profess or claim, often falsely:

   a document purporting to be official.

2. to convey to the mind as the meaning or thing intended; express or imply.

   Synonyms: signify, intend, mean

noun

1. the meaning, import, or sense:

   the main purport of your letter.

   Synonyms: gist, trend, drift, implication

2. purpose; intention; object:

   the main purport of their visit to France.

purport

verb

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

1. meaning; significance
2. purpose; object; intention

Other Words From

• purport·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of purport¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; (verb) late Middle English purporten, from Anglo-French purporter “to mean, signify,” Old French porporter “to carry, convey,” equivalent to pur- pro- ¹ + porter “to carry” (from Latin portāre ); (noun) late Middle English, from Anglo-French, derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of purport¹

C15: from Anglo-French: contents, from Old French porporter to convey, from por- forth + porter to carry, from Latin portāre

Synonym Study

See meaning.

Example Sentences

Substack and other such platforms purport to offer writers a way to acquire followers of their own, building their personal brands.

From Los Angeles Times

These statutes purport to protect providers from criminal penalties if they prescribe and mail abortion pills to patients who live in states with bans.

From Slate

Trump and his useful idiots are very good at offering their followers narratives of conspiracy and decline that purport to explain the state of the world.

From Slate

The movement is led by mutually recognized “apostles” and “prophets” who purport to receive direct guidance from God and see themselves engaged in spiritual warfare — literally, as in fighting actual demons — to gain dominion over the “seven mountains of culture”: family, religion, education, media, arts and entertainment, business and government.

From Salon

But I think we imagined that the type of people who belong to the Economic Club of a major city might be able to rationalize their support for him in service of their portfolios but it is a bit surprising to realize that they actually like all the things they purport not to believe are true about him.

From Salon