so-called

American  

[soh-kawld] / ˈsoʊˈkɔld /

adjective

1. called or designated thus.

   the so-called Southern bloc.

2. incorrectly called or styled thus.

   so-called intellectuals.

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so-called British  

adjective

1. 1. (prenominal) designated or styled by the name or word mentioned, esp (in the speaker's opinion) incorrectly

      a so-called genius

   2. ( also used parenthetically after a noun )

      these experts, so-called, are no help

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Etymology

Origin of so-called

First recorded in 1650–60

Explanation

When you say someone is a so-called pacifist, you are suggesting that they are a pacifist in name only. While they are busy making everyone talk about how peaceful they are, chances are they're also bombing villages to dust. Using the word so-called is a great way to point out systemic hypocrisy and is a much-beloved tool of street preachers and conspiracy cranks the world over. They might talk about our so-called democracy being in fact a sham, and our so-called democratic elections being rigged by forces beyond our control.

Example Sentences

So called up I presume Albert Einstein, and said, hi, I'm, I'm putting together this book of essays.

From Scientific American • Aug. 24, 2023

So called establishment science operates under a process known as peer review in which other anonymous scholars critique their ideas.

From Salon • May 8, 2022

So called 13-F filings require fund managers to detail the amount of stock they held in U.S. companies at the end of the previous quarter.

From Reuters • Feb. 14, 2022

So called home and told his mother about the deal.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2021

So called because the two mandibles cross each other in different directions.

From The Peacock 'At Home' AND The Butterfly's Ball AND The Fancy Fair by Dorset, Catherine Ann Turner

Related Words

• alleged
• formal
• purported
• self-styled