Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- In an ostensible manner; as shown or pretended; professedly.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adverb In an ostensible manner; avowedly; professedly; apparently.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adverb modal
seemingly ,apparently , on thesurface
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adverb from appearances alone
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word ostensibly.
Examples
-
So maybe there’s a legal convention concerning how definitions such as this are to be circumscribed/overridden/whatever by the common English meaning however vague by comparison of the term ostensibly being defined?
The Volokh Conspiracy » Hate Crimes and Double Jeopardy: 2009
-
Under another creator, this might be fodder for wacky domestic comedy, with the bachelor dad screwing up in ostensibly hilarious ways.
-
When he sat down she began to sing a welcome to “Uncle Walter” ostensibly from the mayor (Ivancie I believe).
-
Even those living in ostensibly less affluent areas will be affected.
Housing benefit cuts: what's the real truth? Jamie Doward 2010
-
Dorothy – it is interesting how James, whilst writing in ostensibly the same style, manages to create such different reading experiences with his books.
-
Oddly the BBC report omits to mention on a page that at least ostensibly is about Boris Johnson's visit to the Sikh New Year festival, that Boris's wife is half Sikh, her mother being Dip Singh.
'Unite communities' Not a sheep 2008
-
Oddly the BBC report omits to mention on a page that at least ostensibly is about Boris Johnson's visit to the Sikh New Year festival, that Boris's wife is half Sikh, her mother being Dip Singh.
Archive 2008-05-01 Not a sheep 2008
-
Ignatieff argued that Carroll can't remain ostensibly in charge of rebuilding and unifying the party after publicly casting aspersions on the loyalty of erstwhile leadership competitors.
Archive 2007-05-01 uncorrectedproofs 2007
-
While young Frank Pierson revered Tom Ripley and wanted, in some sense, to become him or at least win his approval, David Pritchard arbitrarily, impulsively decides to make Tom's life a living hell, to harass him with phone calls ostensibly from Dickie Greenleaf (who has been "found and resuscitated"), and, finally, to stalk his every move.
This Woman Is Dangerous Dirda, Michael 2009
-
“Ostensibly written by a local high school student, it was the only item on a full page usually given over to teen topics and (again – ostensibly) written by and for teens,” said our reader.
sonofgroucho commented on the word ostensibly
One of my few adverbs.
February 12, 2008
kewpid commented on the word ostensibly
This is a very good filler word.
February 12, 2008
bonnebe commented on the word ostensibly
I prefer this word to constantly having used: apparently, evidently and seemingly... this particular word encompasses the three and has a much broader scope
July 13, 2009