purport

Purport is a word used as both a verb and a noun, with related forms such as purporting and purported. As a verb, it means to claim to be, do, or have something; to seem or appear to possess a certain characteristic; or to convey a particular meaning. As a noun, it refers to the general meaning, substance, or intention that a document or statement appears to express, regardless of its actual truth or effect. Common usages include phrases like “purports to” and “the purport of.”

Etymology and sense development: Purport originates from Middle English and from Old French forms such as purporter or porporter, related to the verb porter “to carry.” The sense evolved from “to carry forth a message” to “to bear a meaning” and, later, to the idea of claiming or professing something. Over time, the word has retained its formal, often legal or analytical tone.

Usage in context: In legal and formal writing, “the purport of the document” denotes the stated effect or intended meaning, which may differ from its actual legal consequences. In journalism or criticism, the term can signal skepticism about a claim, as in “the press release purports to be unbiased” or “the advertisement purports to offer a cure.”

Distinctions: Purport differs from purpose or intent. Purpose is the desired end or goal, while purport refers to the claimed or inferred meaning or function. The adjective “purported” means “alleged or claimed,” sometimes implying doubt about the truth of the claim.

See also: purporting, purported, purport to.