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

The company, whose stock is by far the best-performing member of the so-called Magnificent Seven so far this year, unveiled the latest version of its chatbot last week.

Read more on Barron's

Saudi state media boasted the country’s emergence as a major non-NATO ally for the U.S., and the signing of a so-called Strategic Defense Agreement as demonstrating Riyadh’s centrality to American strategic thinking.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But so-called crypto-treasury companies, which sell shares to buy cryptocurrencies, are plunging, crushing what once was the hottest trade of the year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bitcoin’s recent declines have dragged down the shares of the so-called crypto treasury companies, which sell stock or debt to fund their token acquisitions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To address the problem, scientists around the world are exploring whether harnessing the quantum properties of atoms can help navigate accurately in so-called contested environments.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alleged 
• formal 
• purported 
• self-styled