putative Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite purported; commonly put forth or accepted as true on inconclusive grounds
    • the foundling's putative father
    • the putative author of the book

WordNet

Pu"ta*tive adjective
Etymology
L. putativus, fr. putare, putatum, to reckon, suppose, adjust, prune, cleanse. See Pure, and cf. Amputate, Compute, Dispute, Impute.
Definitions
  1. Commonly thought or deemed; supposed; reputed; as, the putative father of a child. "His other putative (I dare not say feigned) friends." E. Hall.
    Thus things indifferent, being esteemed useful or pious, became customary, and then came for reverence into a putative and usurped authority. Jer. Taylor.

Webster 1913