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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of so-called

First recorded in 1650–60

Explanation

When you say someone is a so-called pacifist, you are suggesting that they are a pacifist in name only. While they are busy making everyone talk about how peaceful they are, chances are they're also bombing villages to dust. Using the word so-called is a great way to point out systemic hypocrisy and is a much-beloved tool of street preachers and conspiracy cranks the world over. They might talk about our so-called democracy being in fact a sham, and our so-called democratic elections being rigged by forces beyond our control.

Example Sentences

The pair were part of the so-called "Lahore School", one of the most renowned centres of astrolabe production of its time.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Published in Physical Review Letters, the research introduces fresh calculations that point to a previously unexplored process in which so-called stochastic gravitational waves could give rise to dark matter.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

But Apple in recent years has drifted off that singular focus with its so-called Liquid Glass interface that is especially unpopular on the Mac.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

On Blind, a website where verified employees can anonymously post about and review their employers, a user compared the tracking to so-called bossware that some companies use to monitor worker productivity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

“Well, impart this to your so-called pupils. Tell ‘em to keep off my property.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• alleged
• formal
• purported
• self-styled