Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ostensive

/ɒsˈtɛnsɪv/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.31 in modern English

Syllables: os-ten-sive
IPA: /ɒsˈtɛnsɪv/

12

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Apparently true, but not necessarily; ostensible

adj

Clearly demonstrative.

Etymology

From Middle French ostensif and its etymon Late Latin ostēnsīvus.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: ostensif, ostēnsīvus

Inflected Forms

more ostensive (comparative) most ostensive (superlative)

Derived Forms

ostensively

Phrases

ostensive definition

Frequently Paired Words

ostentation ostentatious

Synonyms

ostensible

Questions

How do you pronounce ostensive?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɒsˈtɛnsɪv/.
What does ostensive mean?: Apparently true, but not necessarily; ostensible
Where does ostensive come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce ostensive

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ostensive”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɒsˈtɛnsɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ostensive”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ostensive” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.