First Known Use: 1765
Dictionary
ostensibly
adverb os·ten·si·bly \ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē\
Definition of OSTENSIBLY
1
: in an ostensible manner
2
: to all outward appearances
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Examples of OSTENSIBLY
- 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
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Origin of OSTENSIBLY
(see ostensible)
Related to OSTENSIBLY
- Synonyms
- evidently, apparently, ostensively, presumably, putatively, seemingly, supposedly
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