DictionaryAI

ostensibly

adverb
o-STEN-suh-blee/ɑːˈstɛn.sə.bli/UKo-STEN-si-blee/ɒˈstɛn.sɪ.bli/

1 meaning of ostensibly

Practice

  1. 1
    adverbmodal
    In a way that seems true on the surface, but may hide the real reason.

    He came over, ostensibly to return a book, but he really wanted to see my sister.

    The trip was ostensibly for work, but they spent most days at the beach.

    Similarapparently, seemingly

    Oppositeactually, genuinely, really

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Origin

From ostensible and the ending -ly.