ostensibly
adverb
os·ten·si·bly
ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē 
ə-
1
: in a manner that conceals or may conceal what is true or real
The story is ostensibly fiction, but some of the events are based on real life.
… this was the first time that he had been ostensibly frank as to his purpose while really concealing it.—
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy2
: to all outward appearances
Ostensibly, the reason for his visit was to see an old friend.
… invited me to come inside with him, ostensibly to say good-bye to the hippie friend but actually to smoke pot …—Donna Tartt
Donna TarttExamples of ostensibly in a Sentence
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
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
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
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
Recent Examples on the Web
But despite the Giants’ bench being stocked entirely with righties — including Jerar Encarnacion, who can ostensibly play the corner outfield in a pinch — Vitello sat on his hands and watched Lee strike out on three pitches.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The musician further stressed that this was a creative choice, rather than anything related to the countless controversies Ye has embroiled himself in these past few years (and is ostensibly trying to move past).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of the biblical references, including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
The two are ostensibly competing for at-bats this spring, with Rushing billed as a top catching prospect and Smith locked up on a 10-year contract extension.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
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Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The musician further stressed that this was a creative choice, rather than anything related to the countless controversies Ye has embroiled himself in these past few years (and is ostensibly trying to move past).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of the biblical references, including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
The two are ostensibly competing for at-bats this spring, with Rushing billed as a top catching prospect and Smith locked up on a 10-year contract extension.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostensibly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ostensibly
adverb
os·ten·si·bly
ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē
ə-
: to all outward appearances : seemingly
a statement ostensibly true
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