supposed meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supposed meaning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the intended or assumed interpretation of a word, phrase, or concept. Example: "The supposed meaning of the term was debated among the scholars, leading to various interpretations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I wish that the relative fizzle of today's protests and today's large rally in Benghazi denouncing the attack on the US consulate and militia violence would get even one-tenth of the media attention lavished upon the supposed meaning of last week's embassy attacks.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

One of the problems with this view is, of course, that it fails to account for the fact that the Greeks continued to tell this and similar stories long after their supposed meanings had been forgotten; and they did so, moreover, in the manifest belief that the stories referred, not to nature, but precisely to gods, heroes, and other mythical beings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many fiscal analysts, including the State Comptroller, Edward V. Regan, also are not yet convinced that this year's tax package will raise the money it is supposed to, meaning the state may have to borrow or cut spending later in the year.

The New York Times

Still, it's strange that the delay was announced literally three days away from the supposed launch, meaning something rather big must have come up rather quickly.

Forbes

As the individual transistors on a chip get smaller, they also get closer together, which causes them to have a tendency to shed or leak power they aren't supposed to, meaning more power has to be piped into the chip to make up for that lost to keep it running properly.

Forbes

For a host of reasons, the supposed "plain meaning" argument advanced against the Clean Power Plan is even less plausible than the one put forward in Burwell.

Huffington Post

Kelley was able to buy the gun because the Air Force didn't report a prior domestic violence conviction to the FBI as it was supposed to, meaning Kelley's name wasn't in a database that alerts gun sellers that a prospective gun buyer has a criminal record.

Vice

This failure can be attributed not only to Kircher's erroneous assumption that the hieroglyphs must correspond phonetically to an alphabet but primarily to the fact that he was most interested in the Renaissance conception of a supposed symbolic meaning constituting the deeper significance of hieroglyphs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The supposed hidden meaning within the M.L.K.-Churchill swap contained one element of the anti-Obama fever dream that Trump would eventually exploit to help himself become the forty-fifth President: that America's white Western heritage was being downgraded and dishonored by Obama and a growing nonwhite electorate.

The New Yorker

In any case, it does not help Clean Power Plan's foes that the Burwell Court refused to mechanically put a single clause's supposed plain meaning above the entire statutory context.

Huffington Post

The Court rejected the challengers' supposed "plain meaning" because denying subsidies to insurance purchasers on federal exchanges would have pushed insurance markets into the "death spiral" that Congress intended to avoid.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "supposed meaning", ensure clarity about whose supposition you are referring to. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the source of the assumption or interpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "supposed meaning" without providing context or clarification. Readers may misinterpret your intended message if the basis for the supposition is not clear. Instead, specify whose meaning it's supposed to be.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed meaning" functions as a noun phrase, where "supposed" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "meaning". It denotes an interpretation or significance that is assumed or believed to be true, potentially differing from the actual or intended meaning. This aligns with the usage observed in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supposed meaning" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for discussing assumed or interpreted significances. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English, as seen in varied sources, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific texts. While alternatives like "presumed significance" or "intended interpretation" exist, "supposed meaning" maintains its utility across registers. For clear communication, specify the source of the supposition. While common, avoid using the phrase without providing sufficient context to prevent misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presumed significance

Focuses on the significance that is assumed to be present.

alleged meaning

Highlights that the meaning is asserted but not necessarily proven.

purported meaning

Emphasizes that the meaning is presented or claimed as such.

ostensible meaning

Suggests the meaning is apparent or presented outwardly.

professed meaning

Indicates that the meaning is openly declared or avowed.

assumed interpretation

Shifts focus to the act of interpreting and the underlying assumption.

intended interpretation

Highlights the original intent behind the meaning.

implied significance

Focuses on the significance that is hinted at but not directly stated.

professed interpretation

Emphasizes the declared explanation or understanding.

underlying message

Highlights the deeper, less obvious communication.

FAQs

How can I use "supposed meaning" in a sentence?

You can use "supposed meaning" to discuss interpretations or assumptions. For instance: "The "supposed meaning" of the poem was debated by critics".

What are some alternatives to "supposed meaning"?

Alternatives include "presumed significance", "alleged meaning", or "intended interpretation", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "supposed meaning" and "intended meaning"?

"Supposed meaning" implies an assumption or interpretation, while "intended meaning" refers to the original purpose or significance the author aimed to convey. "Supposed meaning" may differ from the "intended interpretation".

When is it appropriate to use "supposed meaning"?

Use "supposed meaning" when you want to discuss a meaning that is believed to be the case but may not be definitively proven or universally accepted. If you want to say that the meaning is openly declared, you may want to use "professed meaning".