in name
idiom
—used with a following statement to say that something is so by name or title but that is not the way things really are
The Emperor rules in name but not in fact.
She's my boss in name, but we're really more like partners.
Examples of in name in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Not just in the athletic budgets but also in name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
—
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025
For a long time, FIFA has been the organiser of World Cups and, in name at least, the most powerful organisation in the sport.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The sake sorbet is a nod to the banana ice Popsicles that once lined Taiwanese freezer shelves in the 1950s—creamy, sweet, and banana in name only.
—Clarissa Wei, AFAR Media, 13 May 2025
This is not only a board refreshment in name, but in substance as well.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in name
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Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025
For a long time, FIFA has been the organiser of World Cups and, in name at least, the most powerful organisation in the sport.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The sake sorbet is a nod to the banana ice Popsicles that once lined Taiwanese freezer shelves in the 1950s—creamy, sweet, and banana in name only.
—Clarissa Wei, AFAR Media, 13 May 2025
This is not only a board refreshment in name, but in substance as well.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in name
Cite this Entry
“In name.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20name. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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