Synonyms

in name only

American

idiom

having a particular title or reputation, but not functioning or behaving accordingly.

in name only More Idioms

Also, only in name. Nominally, not actually. For example, He's the chief executive in name only; his vice-president makes all the decisions, or Theirs was a marriage only in name; they lived on different continents. [Late 1300s]

Other Word Forms

in-name-only

adjective

Example Sentences

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in name only

It is especially a menace to anyone invested in securities such as longer-term Treasury bonds, which are “safe” in name only.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 11, 2026

Snyder argued that Girardi was running the firm in name only and called it a “Weekend at Bernie’s” situation where partners at the firm were “propping him up to keep the party going.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2024

He will be the speaker in name only.

From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2024

The end result would be a mammoth in name only.

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2024

At some point my mom moved to a separate bedroom in the house, and from then on they were married in name only, not even cohabitating but coexisting.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

in name only

idiom

Other Word Forms

Example Sentences

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