ostensibly
/ɑˈstɛn.sə.bli/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.35 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
adv
Seemingly, apparently, on the surface; supposedly, according to representations or implications made by someone (especially when their motives are suspected by others).
Example Sentences
- "Near-synonyms: reportedly, reputedly, purportedly, putatively, rumoredly, supposedly, allegedly, possibly, probably, likely, plausibly, presumably; see also Thesaurus:ostensibly"
- "His interest in the railway was ostensibly a hobby, but people began wondering why he was taking photos of specific trains and specific equipment."
- "Her interest in his welfare was ostensibly charitable and magnanimous, but people began wondering who was going to inherit his assets when he died."
- "On 13 June the peshwa signed a new treaty, ostensibly complying with the demands of the British government[…]"
- "Up to a year or two ago it had been the custom to kill horses in the yards — ostensibly for fertilizer; […]"
- "The original branch was 5¾ miles long, from Llantrisant to Cowbridge only, but in 1889, the T.V.R. [Taff Vale Railway] obtained powers […] to continue the line for 6½ miles south to the coast at Aberthaw, ostensibly for the purpose of serving the important limestone works there, but one suspects other motives, including an understandable desire on the part of the T.V.R. to put a spoke in the wheel of the oncoming Barry Railway !"
Etymology
Etymology tree English ostensible Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English ostensibly From ostensible + -ly.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɑˈstɛn.sə.bli/
- British English: /ɒˈstɛn.sɪ.bli/