[
UK
/ɒstˈɛnsəbəl/
]
[ US /ɑˈstɛnsəbəɫ/ ]
[ US /ɑˈstɛnsəbəɫ/ ]
ADJECTIVE
-
appearing as such but not necessarily so
the committee investigated some apparent discrepancies
for all his apparent wealth he had no money to pay the rent
his seeming honesty
the ostensible truth of their theories -
represented or appearing as such; pretended
His ostensible purpose was charity, his real goal popularity
How To Use ostensible In A Sentence
- the ostensible truth of their theories
- She is still slight in build, her child's presence not ostensible.
- The ostensible reason for his absence was illness, but everyone knew he'd gone to a football match.
- The ostensible reason was Mr Moussa's supposedly unauthorised dialogue with representatives of the main radical religious group, the Jamaat Islamiya.
- The ostensible reason is that he does not wish to relinquish his seat in the European parliament.
- “Dans les écoles, les collèges et les lycées publics, le port de signes ou tenues par lesquels les élèves manifestent ostensiblement une appartenance religieuse est interdit.” The Volokh Conspiracy » Georgia Courts Expressly Allow Religious Headgear in Court:
- The ostensible ease with which he makes such jumps unsettles even loyal supporters.
- L’article 222 du Code pénal marocain stipule que tout individu connu pour son appartenance à l’Islam qui rompt ostensiblement le jeûne dans un lieu public pendant le Ramadan est passible de un à six mois d’emprisonnement et d’une amende. Global Voices in English » Morocco: Activists Break Fast in Public, Receive Punishment
- At least that's the ostensible subject, if not just the setting. Times, Sunday Times
- The ostensible purpose of these meetings was to gather information on financial strategies.