so-called

[soh-kawld]

adjective

1. called or designated thus.

   the so-called Southern bloc.

2. incorrectly called or styled thus.

   so-called intellectuals.

so-called

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of so-called¹

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

A ministry spokesperson said in a separate statement Thursday that some entities had engaged in "so-called military-technical cooperation with Taiwan", made "vile remarks about China", and helped foreign governments suppress Chinese companies.

Read more on Barron's

Officials did not state whether it would be one or two cuts, though the Fed’s so-called dot plot indicated a slight majority favored two moves this year.

Read more on MarketWatch

Chesson’s experience is one dramatic instance among thousands of so-called fume events reported to the Federal Aviation Administration since 2010, in which toxic fumes from a jet’s engines leak unfiltered into the cockpit or cabin.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Doctors in a handful of states with so-called shield laws have prescribed the medication to women in states with abortion bans.

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It overturned the so-called Chevron deference doctrine, according to which regulatory agencies had wide latitude in interpreting vague statutes.

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Related Words

• alleged 
• formal 
• purported 
• self-styled