[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/purport/)

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# purport

verb (purport, purports, purported, purporting) — formal; noun (purport) — formal

«purport» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To purport to be or do something is to claim to be or do it, when it may not be true. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#m1)
2. (formal) The purport of a text is its general meaning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#m2)

### In the lessons

It belongs to the formal exam and news voice. It warns the reader to be careful: «a letter purporting to be from the bank» may be a scam. In safety lessons about online tricks it is a key idea: something that purports to be official may be fake.

### Examples

- (formal) The email purports to be from the bank, but it is a scam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x1)
- (formal) The map purports to show hidden treasure. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x2)
- (formal) He purports to be an expert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x3)
- (formal) The video purported to show a ghost. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x4)
- (formal) Messages purporting to offer free prizes are often fake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x5)
- (formal) The purport of the letter was clear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x6)
- (everyday) The email says it's from the bank, but it isn't. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x7)
- (formal) The study purports to prove that sugar helps memory. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x8)
- Some words passed between them, but their exact purport will probably never be known. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/#x9)

### Note

Formal. Stress: verb pur-PORT. «Purported» = claimed but not proven. Safety: «purports to be» is a warning sign — check before trusting.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «purport» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purport/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«purport» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/purport.html) on Mova free.