1 reputed | Definition of reputed

reputed

adjective
re·​put·​ed | \ ri-ˈpyü-tÉ™d How to pronounce reputed (audio) \

Definition of reputed

1 : having a good repute : reputable
2 : being such according to reputation or general belief a reputed mobster

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Did You Know?

Reputed is used constantly today by reporters, and almost always to describe suspected criminals—"the reputed mobster", "the reputed drug kingpin", "the reputed gang leader", etc. But the word shouldn't be left to journalists; your elderly aunt may, for instance, be reputed to have made a large fortune in oil, or to have had four husbands who all died mysteriously. Reputed is easy to confuse with reputable, and they used to mean the same thing—that is, "having a good reputation"—but it's become rare to hear reputed used with that meaning today.

Examples of reputed in a Sentence

She was hired for her reputed talents as a manager. this treatment is a reputed cure for colon cancer, but studies haven't confirmed that claim

Recent Examples on the Web

The reputed presence of Mr. Xi, who this holiday season may face some tough decisions on the future of Hong Kong, was immaterial to the crowds, who would never catch a glimpse of him anyway. New York Times, "At Mao’s Beach, China’s Leaders Still Make History as Lifeguards Hide From the Sun," 22 Aug. 2019 The arrests included the reputed head of the crime family, Angelo Figliomeni, who was charged with directing a criminal organization, money laundering and fraud, police said. Fox News, "Biggest Mafia bust in Ontario, Canada, nets 15 arrests, $33 million worth of homes and cars," 20 July 2019 The reputed crime boss was allegedly wearing a pink t-shirt with a cartoon image of donuts, a black wig, silicon mask and tight jeans to conceal his identity. Fox News, "Brazilian gang leader allegedly dresses up as daughter in failed prison escape," 4 Aug. 2019 Nearby stood Jason Pagan, a 38-year-old reputed member of the Bloods street gang who had gotten out of prison six months earlier after serving time for a gun charge. New York Times, "‘We Saw People Dropping’: How a Brooklyn Rite of Summer Ended in Bloodshed," 30 July 2019 Police charged a Staten Island man with murder Monday for the killing of the reputed boss of the Gambino crime family earlier this month. Corinne Ramey, WSJ, "Man Accused of Killing Reputed Gambino Boss Charged With Murder," 25 Mar. 2019 In 2012, Italian forensic police exhumed the body of a reputed mobster from the crypt of a Roman basilica in hopes of finding Orlandi’s remains as well – but the search turned up no link. Fox News, "Expert says Vatican space holds bones of dozens amid bid to solve girl’s 1983 disappearance," 20 July 2019 The last major twist in the case came in 2012, when Italian forensic police exhumed the body of a reputed mobster from the crypt of a Roman basilica in hopes of finding Orlandi's remains as well. Nicole Winfield, Anchorage Daily News, "Vatican mystery over missing girl deepens as bones are found," 13 July 2019 The last major twist in the case came in 2012, when forensic police exhumed the body of a reputed mobster from the crypt of a Roman basilica in hopes of finding Orlandi’s remains as well. NBC News, "Vatican mystery deepens over 15-year-old girl missing since 1983; bones found," 13 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reputed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of reputed

circa 1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for reputed

reputed

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of reputed

: said to be true, to exist, to have a specified identity, etc.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reputed

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with reputed

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reputed

Spanish Central: Translation of reputed

Nglish: Translation of reputed for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of reputed for Arabic Speakers