ostensibly
adverb
os·ten·si·bly
ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē 
ə-
1
: in an ostensible manner
2
: to all outward appearances
Synonyms
Examples 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
Even the Paris Agreement, ostensibly a plan to limit climate change to an acceptable level, is swampy.
—Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Around-the-clock checks and 24/7 lighting are ostensibly security measures, but Dolovich is skeptical that such measures actually help prevent suicides or escapes.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
And as with so many other conflicts, the extremes—ostensibly in opposition—feed off each other.
—Arianna Huffington, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Lexicon By Max Barry On Writing, by Stephen King
King’s nonfiction craft book, On Writing, ostensibly fulfills the promise of its subtitle: A Memoir of the Craft.
—Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ostensibly 
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Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Around-the-clock checks and 24/7 lighting are ostensibly security measures, but Dolovich is skeptical that such measures actually help prevent suicides or escapes.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
And as with so many other conflicts, the extremes—ostensibly in opposition—feed off each other.
—Arianna Huffington, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Lexicon By Max Barry On Writing, by Stephen King
King’s nonfiction craft book, On Writing, ostensibly fulfills the promise of its subtitle: A Memoir of the Craft.
—Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ostensibly
Dictionary Entries Near ostensibly
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostensibly. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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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