Word
ostensibly
Phoneticsos·ten·si·bly, stress on the second syllable
US/ɑˈstɛnsəbɫi/
UK/ɒstˈɛnsəbli/
Sentence adverb
Definition
adv. appearing to be one way on the surface, even if the real reason or truth is different. You use this when someone says they are doing something for one reason, but you suspect there is a hidden motive.
adv. appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; on the surface. Used to indicate a discrepancy between a stated justification and a suspected underlying reality.
Examples
“He visited the office ostensibly to say hello, but he wanted a job.”
“The troops were ostensibly deployed for peacekeeping, though many observers believed their true purpose was to secure the nearby oil fields.”
“While the policy was ostensibly designed to protect consumer privacy, critics argued it served primarily to stifle competition by preventing smaller firms from accessing essential market data.”
Examples
simple
“He visited the office ostensibly to say hello, but he wanted a job.”
contextual
“The troops were ostensibly deployed for peacekeeping, though many observers believed their true purpose was to secure the nearby oil fields.”
complex
“While the policy was ostensibly designed to protect consumer privacy, critics argued it served primarily to stifle competition by preventing smaller firms from accessing essential market data.”
Usage
Often used to qualify a statement of purpose or intent; typically placed before the verb or adjective it modifies.
Real-World Examples
“Ostensibly, the action taken by the clubs is part of an anti-scalping crackdown, as ever-rising demand has created a lucrative secondary market for scalpers to resell tickets at hugely inflated prices.” “Which brings us to Love Me Not, an ostensibly harmless 2024 track by Chicago singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae.” Etymology
From ostensible + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ostensibly