ostensibly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ostensibly' is correct and usable in written English.
It means seemingly or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. It is often used in such a way that suggests doubt. For example: Ostensibly, the company claimed to be offering high wages, but in fact the pay was low.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a documentary, ostensibly, but it's also a genre-defying film about memory and fiction and their strange, liquid relationship with the truth.

The Guardian - Film

Often ostensibly secular and radically libertarian, for decades they have lobbied to turn public education – currently an $85bn federal operation – into an industrial complex.

The Guardian

The visit was ostensibly to coincide with the party's announcement that it would put £2.5bn towards a care closer to home fund, which would put money into providing care options that avoid hospital admissions for older people.

The Guardian

When the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) – the statute which ostensibly "legalises" everything that GCHQ & co do in cyberspace – was going through parliament in 1999, those of us who campaigned against it were astonished to find that no more than a handful of MPs were interested.

The Guardian - Tech

Ostensibly a road safety measure, this system tracks vehicles using GPS and reports back to a central database.

The Guardian - Tech

In the meantime, a law ostensibly designed to reduce the dominance of big corporations will likely result in their becoming even stronger.

The Guardian - Books

Last year there was even talk at the FCO of giving to the Armenian Genocide Museum copies of some files in the National Archives attesting to the Ottoman atrocities: this was turned down, ostensibly because the photocopying costs of £431.20 could not be afforded, but probably because the Turks would go ballistic.

The Guardian - Books

Gone are the days when companies were ostensibly forced to answer questions at annual shareholder meetings, said the employee, who requested anonymity, citing his company's political positioning.

The Guardian

Sweeney went with the LSE group on a trip ostensibly arranged by the Grimshaw Club – the student society of the university's international relations department.

The Guardian

1.40pm: There's nasty piece of YouTube posted by someone named by NHLiberty4Paul, ostensibly a pro-Ron Paul ad that mocks Jon Huntsman for his links with China, calling him a "Manchurian candidate" and specifically mentioning Huntsman's adopted daughters.

The Guardian

Tokyo has used a legal loophole in the 1986 ban on commercial whaling that allowed it to continue slaughtering the mammals, ostensibly so it could gather scientific data.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ostensibly" to introduce a statement that requires further scrutiny or might be misleading at face value. For instance, "Ostensibly, the new policy aims to reduce bureaucracy, but its actual effect is an increase in paperwork."

Common error

Avoid using "ostensibly" when you mean "obviously". "Ostensibly" implies a degree of doubt or skepticism, while "obviously" suggests something is clear and apparent. For example, instead of "Ostensibly, the sky is blue", use "Obviously, the sky is blue".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "ostensibly" primarily functions as a qualifier, indicating that a statement or action appears a certain way but may not be entirely accurate or genuine. Ludwig AI confirms this based on numerous examples of use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ostensibly" is a versatile adverb used to express that something appears to be the case, though its actual truth or intent is questionable. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage and high frequency across diverse contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. While it is grammatically sound, remember that, it's important to differentiate it from similar words like "obviously" and synonyms like "seemingly" or "apparently". Using "ostensibly" effectively enhances the critical analysis of facts by signaling potential deception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently

Indicates something seems to be true based on what is known.

seemingly

Similar to "apparently", suggesting something appears a certain way.

supposedly

Suggests something is claimed to be true, possibly with doubt.

purportedly

Implies that something is claimed to be the case, but may not be.

on the surface

Indicates how something appears at first glance, without deeper examination.

ostensively

Direct synonym, almost interchangeable but less common.

professedly

Refers to something claimed openly, but potentially insincerely.

allegedly

Indicates that a statement has been made but is yet to be proven.

avowedly

Implies an open declaration, possibly masking ulterior motives.

under the guise of

Suggests something is done with a deceptive appearance or pretext.

FAQs

How can I use "ostensibly" in a sentence?

"Ostensibly" is used to indicate that something appears to be true, but there may be reasons to doubt it. For instance, "The meeting was "ostensibly about budget cuts", but the real purpose was to discuss a merger."

What are some alternatives to "ostensibly"?

Alternatives include "apparently", "seemingly", or "supposedly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "ostensibly true"?

While grammatically correct, "ostensibly true" can be redundant. The word "ostensibly" already implies that something appears true but might not be. Consider rephrasing to something like "apparently true" or "seemingly true" if you want to emphasize the apparent truth.

What's the difference between "ostensibly" and "ostentatiously"?

"Ostensibly" means seemingly or apparently, while "ostentatiously" means in a showy or exaggerated way. For example, "He "ostensibly helped" the poor, but his motives were suspect" versus "He "ostentatiously displayed" his wealth."