ostensibly retired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ostensibly retired" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who appears to be retired but may still be involved in some activities or work, often implying a level of skepticism about their true status. Example: "Although he is ostensibly retired, he still takes on consulting projects and speaks at industry conferences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It could be easier still to forget Darren Wilson, now that he has ostensibly retired – "for obvious reasons", he says, gesturing to security risks that he "cannot allow".

The Guardian - Opinion

Philip Roth, the splendid, New Jersey-born, ostensibly retired American novelist, will be eighty next week, and his home town of Newark is turning out to celebrate.

The New Yorker

Oxo took root in the late 1980s, when Mr. Farber, ostensibly retired, and his wife, Betsey, were making an apple tart in their rented home in the south of France.

The New York Times

With Wang newly vulnerable, hard-liners pushed the idea that his "Tough Porridge" was actually a veiled attack on Deng Xiaoping, who, ostensibly retired, was still the supreme power at the time.

The New Yorker

By Adam Gopnik Philip Roth, the splendid, New Jersey-born, ostensibly retired American novelist, will be eighty next week, and his home town of Newark is turning out to celebrate.

The New Yorker

Speaking in Italy earlier this month, the globe-trotting celebrity monk exiled in northern India and ostensibly retired from the murky business of politicking said they were perfectly sane but fatally enraged at China's "brutality" towards Tibetans.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In 1993, three years after leaving the Giants (and ostensibly retiring), Parcells was lured to New England by then owner James Orthwein.

Forbes

UPDATE: Friday, April 8 -- Jon Stewart dedicated the majority of The Daily Show Thursday night to ostensibly retiring his Glenn Beck impression.

Huffington Post

The injury was ostensibly why I retired, but in truth I started realizing I'd never be really great.

The New York Times - Magazine

Stationed in the centre alongside Stoney, Dieke, who plays her club football in Sweden for Vittsjo, is ostensibly filling the recently retired captain Faye White's boots, and got off to a good start with a player of the match performance on Friday.

The Guardian - Sport

Lady Elgin had been forced to retire, ostensibly on account of age, but most likely because George was angry that Lady Elgin had taken Charlotte to see the King without George's permission.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ostensibly retired" to subtly question the completeness or sincerity of someone's retirement. For example, "He's ostensibly retired, but he still consults on major projects."

Common error

Avoid using "ostensibly retired" when you simply mean someone is retired. The word "ostensibly" implies that the retirement might not be entirely what it seems, so use it only when you have reason to believe there's more to the story.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ostensibly retired" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (usually a person's name or a pronoun referring to a person). It indicates that the individual's retirement is apparent or declared, but potentially not entirely genuine. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

19%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ostensibly retired" is a nuanced way to describe someone whose retirement status appears to be in place but might not reflect their actual level of involvement or activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct. It's most frequently found in News & Media sources. The phrase implies a degree of skepticism or doubt regarding the completeness of the retirement. When using "ostensibly retired", be mindful of the subtle implication that the person may still be actively engaged in their former profession. Alternatives like "apparently retired" or "seemingly retired" can be used to convey a similar meaning without the same level of skepticism. In essence, "ostensibly retired" is a useful phrase when you want to suggest that someone's retirement is not entirely what it seems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently retired

Replaces "ostensibly" with "apparently", focusing on outward appearance rather than underlying reality.

seemingly retired

Uses "seemingly" instead of "ostensibly", emphasizing the perceived retirement status.

nominally retired

Employs "nominally" to highlight that the retirement is in name only.

technically retired

Indicates that the retirement exists from a formal standpoint but might not reflect actual activity.

supposedly retired

Uses "supposedly" to convey a sense of doubt or hearsay regarding the retirement.

ostensibly out of work

Shifts the focus to being "out of work" rather than specifically "retired", maintaining the sense of outward appearance.

professedly retired

Highlights the declared or professed nature of the retirement, suggesting potential discrepancy.

putatively retired

Indicates that the retirement is based on what is believed or assumed, possibly without concrete proof.

ostensibly inactive

Changes the focus to "inactive" status, implying a possible continued involvement.

ostensibly disengaged

Highlights the "disengaged" aspect, indicating a possible continued involvement or connection.

FAQs

What does "ostensibly retired" mean?

The phrase "ostensibly retired" describes someone who appears to be retired, but there's a suggestion that they may still be involved in activities related to their former profession or that their retirement isn't entirely genuine.

How can I use "ostensibly retired" in a sentence?

You can use "ostensibly retired" to describe someone whose retirement status seems questionable. For example, "Although he is "ostensibly retired", he still attends board meetings and influences company decisions."

What are some alternatives to "ostensibly retired"?

Alternatives include "apparently retired", "seemingly retired", or "nominally retired", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "ostensibly retired" or "formally retired"?

"Formally retired" simply means that someone has officially retired. "Ostensibly retired" implies that while someone may be formally retired, their actions or involvement suggest otherwise.