so-called

[ soh-kawld ]
See synonyms for so-called on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. called or designated thus: the so-called Southern bloc.

  2. incorrectly called or styled thus: so-called intellectuals.

Origin of so-called

1
First recorded in 1650–60

Words Nearby so-called

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use so-called in a sentence

  • Many so-called "humming tones" are given for practice, but in accepting them observe whether the foregoing principle is obeyed.

    Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge Southwick
  • In future years the poor-rate (so-called) will include, in addition to these, all other rates levyable by the Corporation.

    Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
  • Perhaps his almost perfectly spontaneous love of tiny flowers is already a considerable advance on his so-called prototype.

    Children's Ways | James Sully
  • The so-called war credit banks are designed to serve this purpose.

    Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur Phillips
  • Her active intellect and love of freedom sympathized with the speculations of the so-called philosopher.

British Dictionary definitions for so-called

so-called

adjective
    • (prenominal) designated or styled by the name or word mentioned, esp (in the speaker's opinion) incorrectly: a so-called genius

    • (also used parenthetically after a noun): these experts, so-called, are no help

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012