Vermeintliche

Vermeintliche is a German adjective meaning "alleged" or "supposed." It is used to describe something that is claimed or assumed but not yet proven or confirmed, serving as a hedge in assertions. The word appears widely in journalism, academic writing, and everyday speech to signal uncertainty or dispute about a fact or claim.

Etymology and grammar: Vermeintliche derives from vermeinen, “to suppose” or “to assume,” with the adjectival suffix -lich. The base form vermeintlich is used as an adverb or in predicative position, while the attributive form vermeintliche (with appropriate endings) modifies a noun. The endings change with gender, case, and number (e.g., die vermeintliche Lösung, den vermeintlichen Tätern, das vermeintliche Problem, die vermeintlichen Hinweise).

Usage and nuance: Vermeintliche often implies that the claim is not established and may be contested. It is somewhat more neutral than angeblich, which also signals unreliability but can carry a stronger sense of third‑party sourcing. Vermeintliche can coexist with evaluative nuance, from cautious reporting to mild skepticism, depending on context and tone. Common collocations include vermeintliche Lösung, vermeintliche Beweise, and vermeintliche Schuld.

See also: angeblich, mutmaßlich, hypothese. In practice, writers choose vermeintliche to demarcate belief, rumor, or disputed attribution without asserting final truth.