ostensibly — English Dictionary

Adverb

1. Seemingly, apparently, on the surface; supposedly, according to representations or implications made by someone (especially when their motives are suspected by others).

   Usage

   • modal
   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   apparentlyarguablyat first blushostensivelyseeminglyreportedlyreputedlypurportedlyputativelyrumoredlysupposedlyallegedlypossiblyprobablylikelyplausiblypresumably

   Related words

   ostensibleostensive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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.

   More examples (8)

   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 !

   People strive to achieve perfection — ostensibly an honorable goal — but complete perfection is dangerous. To be imperfect, but human, is far preferable.

   Mr. Marwan’s story — a tale overflowing with the suspense and ruthless duplicity of a spy novel — began to take shape in the spring of 1969. He had come to London, ostensibly to consult a Harley Street doctor about a stomach ailment. He chose to be examined by a doctor whose offices had been used previously for a covert meeting between King Hussein of Jordan and the general director of the Israeli prime minister’s office."

   The violence began when Serbian troops went into Croatia ostensibly to aid armed ethnic Serbians trying to create their own autonomous states there.

   The "petrol clams" are fleshy and flavourful -- the secret to avoiding a hydrocarbon taste is not to inhale while slipping them into the mouth -- and a speciality of the West Sea Barrage beach at Nampho, southwest of Pyongyang. The sandy beach lies at the far end of the eight-kilometre barrier across the Taedong river mouth -- ostensibly built for flood control, but which also blocks access to Pyongyang, a few dozen kilometres upriver, for any invading navy.

   Quite possibly the worst aspect of this is the role of the train operating companies and their representative body, the ineptly named Rail Delivery Group (RDG). Ostensibly, the plan has come from them. In reality, this has been driven entirely by Government, which asked each train operator to draw up plans for its area.

Adverb

1. from appearances alone

   Synonyms

   apparentlyseeminglyon the face of it

   Examples

   irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land

   the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is concerned

   More examples (1)

   on the face of it the problem seems minor