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Putative vs Estimate - What's the difference?

putative | estimate |

As an adjective putative

is commonly believed or deemed to be the case; accepted by supposition rather than as a result of proof.

As a noun estimate is

a rough calculation or guess.

As a verb estimate is

to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.

putative

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Commonly believed or deemed to be the case; accepted by supposition rather than as a result of proof.
  • * 1879 , Maurice Mauris, "A Materialistic Artist," New York Times , 9 Nov., p. 10:
  • [T]he lady . . . insisted upon going herself, requesting me to mind for a second the baby. . . . lo! the baby awoke and stared at me with a pair of big frightened eyes, which the little thing in another moment rolled in all directions, as if in search of its putative mother.
  • * 1989 , , " US must support Thailand if Cambodia is to survive," Milwaukee Sentinel'' ''(Los Angeles Times Service) , 28 Oct. (retrieved 15 Sep. 2009):
  • Just as Prince Sihanouk is fronting for the Khmer Rouge today . . . so also was he their putative leader from 1970 to 1975.
  • * 2006 , Unmesh Kher, " No Neat Endings for the JonBenet Case," Time , 18 Aug.:
  • Karr's past does raise suspicions. When he was arrested in Bangkok, he was living in a dormitory-like guesthouse in a neighborhood frequented by sex tourists. . . . Of course, Karr's putative pedophilia would not make him guilty of murder.

    Synonyms

    * ostensible, purported, reputed, supposed

    estimate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rough calculation or guess.
  • (construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job will probably cost.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
  • , title=Well Tackled! , chapter=3 citation , passage=“They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”}}

    Synonyms

    * estimation * appraisal

    Derived terms

    * ballpark estimate

    Verb

  • To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1965, author=Ian Hacking, title=Logic of Statistical Inference, passage=I estimate that I need 400 board feet of lumber to complete a job, and then order 350 because I do not want a surplus, or perhaps order 450 because I do not want to make any subsequent orders.
  • citation
  • * '>citation
  • To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
  • * John Locke
  • It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
  • * J. C. Shairp
  • It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.

    Synonyms

    * appraise * guess

    Derived terms

    * estimable * underestimate * overestimate