ostensibly

[ o-sten-suh-blee ]

adverb

1. in appearance only; supposedly:

   The event was ostensibly for charity, but he mainly used it to promote his new book.

Other Words From

• non·os·ten·si·bly adverb
• un·os·ten·si·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ostensibly¹

First recorded in 1760–70; ostensib(le) ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Related Words

• evidently
• officially
• seemingly
• supposedly