ostensible
Americanadjective
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outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended.
an ostensible cheerfulness concealing sadness.
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Rare. apparent, evident, or conspicuous.
the ostensible truth of their theories.
adjective
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apparent; seeming
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pretended
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of ostensible
First recorded in 1730–40; from French, from Latin ostēns(us) , variant of ostentus ( cf. ostensive) + French -ible -ible
Explanation
When something is ostensible it appears to be the case but might not be. Your ostensible reason for visiting every bakery in town is that you're looking for a part-time job — but I think you really just want to eat cupcakes. Just because something is ostensible doesn't necessarily mean that it's not as it appears to be, only that there's a possibility of another reason. Your ostensible reason for calling your crush was to ask about homework; the real reason was that you were hoping they would ask you out. Ostensible derives from the Latin verb ostendere, meaning "to show or display."
Vocabulary lists containing ostensible
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ostensible reason: the Russians stay off because they are still not fighting Japan, and the inclusion of a Chinese might somehow offend the U.S.S.R.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ostensible purpose of the hearing: to "appraise the antitrust laws" and ascertain "needed amendments."
From Time Magazine Archive
Ostensible purpose: to test the constitutionality of the school-closing law in state courts.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ostensible purpose of the meeting: resumption of Ike's weekly conferences with the G.O.P.'s congressional leadership.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ostensible leadership, such as has been staged in this country from time to time, has turned out to be ostensible only.
From An Inquiry Into The Nature Of Peace And The Terms Of Its Perpetuation by Veblen, Thorstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
