purported
per-POR-tidadjMeaning claimed or said to be, but not proven
Memory hook PURR-PORTED: the “royal” cat. The seller swears his purring cat once belonged to a king, but he has no proof at all; it is only the purported royal cat.
The museum showed a purported dinosaur egg that turned out to be a smooth river stone.
In context The purported treasure map was a fake; experts showed that its “ancient” paper was only a few years old.
Similar supposed, alleged, reputed, professed
Opposite proven, confirmed, verified
From purport, from Old French purporter, “to carry, to convey”: pur- (forth) + porter (to carry).