ostensibly
adverb
os·ten·si·bly
ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē 
ə-
1
: in a manner that conceals or may conceal what is true or real
The story is ostensibly fiction, but some of the events are based on real life.
… this was the first time that he had been ostensibly frank as to his purpose while really concealing it.—
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy2
: to all outward appearances
Ostensibly, the reason for his visit was to see an old friend.
… invited me to come inside with him, ostensibly to say good-bye to the hippie friend but actually to smoke pot …—Donna Tartt
Donna TarttExamples of ostensibly in a Sentence
The god of cleanliness is never satisfied. In America, the ostensibly egalitarian nature of society meant that cleanliness was used to mark status.
—Joanna Bourke, Harper's, April 2008
Budweiser and Miller, on the other hand, have eroded their credibility by launching brands ostensibly produced by microbreweries. They've been found out, with resulting customer cynicism.
—James R. Rosenfield, Demographics, December 1997
The day after Clinton made his seemingly proactive statement, he met with congressional leaders of both parties, ostensibly to press the case for military intervention.
—Michael Kelly, New Yorker, 19 Dec.1994
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
Joanna Bourke, Harper's, April 2008
Budweiser and Miller, on the other hand, have eroded their credibility by launching brands ostensibly produced by microbreweries. They've been found out, with resulting customer cynicism.
—James R. Rosenfield, Demographics, December 1997
The day after Clinton made his seemingly proactive statement, he met with congressional leaders of both parties, ostensibly to press the case for military intervention.
—Michael Kelly, New Yorker, 19 Dec.1994
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
Recent Examples on the Web
When a handful of renderings leaked prematurely, the initial reactions focused on ostensibly vulgar details, especially bronze accents that looked implausibly golden in the renderings and a presidential seal etched on one wall.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 June 2026
But as the team made its announcement, its tactics across years of negotiations — including ostensibly definitive statements about their intentions at a number of different sites in the region — drove several top Illinois leaders to open frustration.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
In Oakland, Measure E would have raised $34 million in parcel taxes, ostensibly to fund public safety efforts.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Less than 50 miles away, another bison lives an ostensibly similar life, also moving with the seasons and calving among the sagebrush, vigilant for predators.
—The Conversation, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
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Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 June 2026
But as the team made its announcement, its tactics across years of negotiations — including ostensibly definitive statements about their intentions at a number of different sites in the region — drove several top Illinois leaders to open frustration.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
In Oakland, Measure E would have raised $34 million in parcel taxes, ostensibly to fund public safety efforts.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Less than 50 miles away, another bison lives an ostensibly similar life, also moving with the seasons and calving among the sagebrush, vigilant for predators.
—The Conversation, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostensibly. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ostensibly
adverb
os·ten·si·bly
ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē
ə-
: to all outward appearances : seemingly
a statement ostensibly true
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