Väidetav

Väidetav is an Estonian adjective meaning “alleged” or “putative.” It describes something that has been claimed or asserted by someone and has not been proven or verified. The term is common in journalism, law, and public discourse as a hedging device to attribute statements to a source rather than present them as established fact. The corresponding adverb is väidetavalt, meaning “allegedly.”

Its etymology traces to the noun väide, meaning “claim,” combined with the participial suffix -tav, which forms an adjective indicating something that is claimed or asserted. The word thus marks a statement as unverified rather than as a confirmed truth.

Usage notes: Väidetav is placed before the noun it modifies, as in väidetav süüdlane (“the alleged culprit”) or väidetav vargus (“the alleged theft”). It signals that the information rests on claims from others and has not been substantiated. In contrast, kahtlustatav (“suspected”) conveys a different level of certainty, and tõendatud (“proven”) indicates verification.

Examples: Politsei jätkas uurimist väidetava süüdlase kohta. This usage demonstrates how väidetav functions as a predicate adjective in referring to unverified accusations within Estonian text.