ostensibly welcome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ostensibly welcome" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something appears to be welcome on the surface, but may not be genuinely so. Example: "The committee's decision to include the new policy was ostensibly welcome, but many members had reservations about its implications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Ostensibly Welcome to New York casts Depardieu in the role of rutting, strutting "George Devereaux", at the mercy of his appetites and quickly riding for a fall.

The Guardian - Film

Alternatives to established mobile software is ostensibly welcome by the vociferous minority but I doubt seriously this thing will put a dent in even Android Wear uptake.

TechCrunch

Four years later, as the ostensibly "welcome" new emission standards kicked in, EPA officials were forced to investigate whether Caterpillar, whose engines still didn't meet the new standards, was illegally encouraging its customers to "pre-order" high emitting truck engines before the new standards took effect.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It is a vague but powerful sense, which many immigrant antennae pick up, that there is somewhere an inner sanctum of Britishness, an elusive top table, to which, by reason of birth and class, the newcomer is not invited, ostensibly welcomed though he may be.

The Economist

It gathered ostensibly to welcome a new chairman, the former chief executive of the International Rugby Board Mike Miller, to replace Mel Stein.

The Guardian - Sport

Nonetheless, Mr. Bloomberg used nearly the entire length of a morning speech, ostensibly to welcome Sabey Corporation's new data center to New York City, to criticize the proposal for an inspector general.

The New York Times

Ostensibly, the USA welcomes IMGs for two purposes.

Human Resources for Health

It's a beautifully colourful cross-section of London's revelling tribes: hipsters, fashionistas, voguers, goths, privates, choisers, geriatrics, Zoroastrians, Beliebers … all are welcome, and ostensibly, all attend.

The Guardian - Travel

And are they welcomed by those they are ostensibly helping?

The Guardian

This was the point behind Mr Khatami's observation, ostensibly directed at Iraq, that people living under dictatorships might welcome foreign intervention if it means they can "breathe easily".

The Economist

According to Sumlin, when Wolf arrived home in West Milford, Arkansas, from a lengthy tour, Helen sent him to the corner store, ostensibly to buy groceries so she could cook him a welcome-home feast.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ostensibly welcome" to convey a sense of superficial or apparent acceptance that might not be entirely genuine. It adds a layer of nuance to your writing, suggesting a degree of skepticism or reservation.

Common error

Avoid using "ostensibly welcome" when you mean to express sincere and heartfelt acceptance. The word "ostensibly" implies a level of doubt or superficiality, so it's inappropriate for situations where the welcome is genuine.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ostensibly welcome" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, describing the superficial or apparent nature of the welcome. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ostensibly welcome" is a tool for adding depth and complexity to your writing. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and highlights a situation where something appears to be welcomed but may not be entirely genuine. With its use primarily in news and media and science contexts, as well as the availability of alternatives like "seemingly welcome" and "apparently welcome", writers can use "ostensibly welcome" to indicate a level of skepticism or superficiality in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seemingly welcome

Replaces "ostensibly" with "seemingly", focusing on the appearance of welcome.

apparently welcome

Uses "apparently" instead of "ostensibly", emphasizing the evident but not necessarily real welcome.

purportedly welcome

Substitutes "ostensibly" with "purportedly", suggesting a claim of welcome that may be doubtful.

ostensibly accepted

Replaces "welcome" with "accepted", focusing on a general acceptance rather than a greeting.

nominally welcome

Emphasizes that the welcome is in name only, with "nominally" replacing "ostensibly".

outwardly welcome

Focuses on the external appearance of being welcome, using "outwardly".

allegedly welcome

Indicates that the welcome is based on an allegation or unproven claim, using "allegedly".

ostensibly agreeable

Replaces "welcome" with "agreeable", shifting the focus to an apparent agreement.

ostensibly pleasing

Changes "welcome" to "pleasing", highlighting the superficial appearance of being pleasing or agreeable.

superficially welcome

Directly states that the welcome is only on the surface, using "superficially".

FAQs

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

You can use "ostensibly welcome" to describe a situation where someone or something appears to be welcomed, but there may be underlying doubts or reservations. For example, "The new policy was "ostensibly welcome" by the public, but many officials privately expressed concerns."

What's a simple way to explain the meaning of "ostensibly welcome"?

"Ostensibly welcome" means that something is welcome on the surface or in appearance, but perhaps not in reality. It suggests a superficial acceptance rather than a genuine one.

Are there any alternatives to "ostensibly welcome" that have a more positive connotation?

Yes, if you want to express genuine acceptance, you can use phrases like "genuinely welcome", "warmly welcome", or "sincerely welcome".

What's the difference between "ostensibly welcome" and "actually welcome"?

"Ostensibly welcome" suggests that something appears to be welcome but might not be in reality, whereas "actually welcome" implies that it truly is welcome. The former implies a potential discrepancy between appearance and reality, while the latter confirms the welcome is genuine.