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

Malone’s purported Coachella takeover would arrive after he performed in April on Stagecoach’s Mane Stage.

From Los Angeles Times

“Most of those ideas are sinkholes for government spending, which is ironic given the Trump administration’s purported devotion to efficiency.”

From Los Angeles Times

Beyond his purported frustration with organized religion, we learn very little about Reed.

From Los Angeles Times

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

For all his purported devotion to sameness, at the top of this season Laszlo pompously announced that he forbade Nadja from getting a job and having regular contact with the world.

From Salon