I. pur ‧ port 1 /pɜːˈpɔːt $ pɜːrˈpɔːrt/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
formal to claim to be or do something, even if this is not true
purport to do something
Two undercover officers purporting to be dealers infiltrated the gang.
be purported to be something
The document is purported to be 300 years old.
—purportedly adverb :
a portrait purportedly of Shakespeare
II. pur ‧ port 2 /ˈpɜːpɔːt, -pət $ ˈpɜːrpɔːrt/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Anglo-French ; Origin: purporter 'to contain' , from Old French , from porter 'to carry' ]
formal the general meaning of what someone says