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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of so-called

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

Ajinomoto, which means “essence of flavor”, built its food empire on the discovery of umami and commercialized the so-called fifth taste in its purest form as monosodium glutamate, a “flavor bomb” used by cooks worldwide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Astronaut Christina Koch said the so-called Universal Waste Management System was giving off "a burning heater smell."

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

That skepticism represents the so-called wall of worry that the ensuing rally can climb.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

"Sooner or later these so-called alphabetical world champions are going to have to fight me. They will be hunted and destroyed. Who will they face for money? I'm the money man," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

I’m trying to make a place where so-called bad ones could come when they wanna get away from the world or even themselves.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

Related Words

• alleged
• formal
• purported
• self-styled