Ostensible
Press releases and polite declines both hide real motives behind reasons that scan fine on a skim.
Learn This WordMeaning
Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so; outwardly claimed.
Memory trick
OSTENSIBLE = "shown outwardly", what is on display may not be the full story.
Examples
The ostensible reason for the meeting was training; the real goal was alignment.
His ostensible confidence hid a lot of anxiety.
The ostensible savings vanished after hidden fees appeared.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin ostendere "to show," from ob- "toward" + tendere "to stretch."
Usage Notes
Signals "what they say" vs "what may really be going on." Common in journalism and analysis.
Real-life contexts
Use in analysis: "The ostensible goal was growth; the incentive was vanity metrics."
Use carefully: "Ostensibly, yes, but follow the money."
Use in writing: "Ostensible neutrality can mask bias."
Common Mistakes
Ostensible does not mean "obvious." It means "claimed or appearing," often with doubt implied.
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Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
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