prétendus

Prétendus is a French adjective meaning alleged or supposed. It is used to qualify a noun when the status of what is claimed is disputed or not proven, and it often conveys a tone of skepticism without asserting falsehood. In English translations, prétendus is typically rendered as alleged, so-called, or purported, depending on context. The feminine form is prétendue, and the plural forms are prétendus (masculine) and prétendues (feminine).

Etymology and usage notes: The word comes from the verb prétendre, meaning to claim, which itself derives from Latin praetendere. As an attributive adjective, prétendu can be neutral in some contexts, but it frequently carries a critical or distancing nuance, especially when applied to people, statements, or events presented as facts by others.

Forms and syntax: Prétendus agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Common pairs include prétendu/prétendue (singular) and prétendus/prétendues (plural). It is often placed before the noun it describes, as in prétendus témoins (alleged witnesses) or prétendues autorités (so-called authorities).

Usage notes: In formal writing, prétendus is a precise way to signal that a claim lacks established proof. It is distinct from terms like suppossé or hypothétique, which can carry slightly different shades of certainty. While not inherently pejorative, prétendus often implies doubt or criticism about the claim or actor involved.

Examples:

Des prétendus témoins ont été exclus du procès. (The alleged witnesses were excluded from the trial.)

Les prétendues autorités locales nient les accusations. (The so-called local authorities deny the accusations.)

See also: prétendre (to claim), prétention, prétendu.