ostensibly
adverb
os·ten·si·bly
ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē 
ə-
1
: in an ostensible manner
2
: to all outward appearances
Examples 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
These movements ostensibly supporting and elevating military service are also measures to keep veterans on a leash, the ISW said.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Despite the vote and the city’s broader pledges to expand affordable housing options, signs of reluctance surfaced during discussions to nudge forward projects that would, ostensibly, advance that goal.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2025
Some prisons have sought to keep trans inmates separated from the general population by placing them in indefinite solitary confinement — conditions classified by the U.N. as torture — ostensibly for protection, or as a form of administrative segregation.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 24 Feb. 2025
Even in the wealthiest countries, those willing to pay extra for coffee whose production ostensibly does not come at the expense of forests or vulnerable workers are vastly outnumbered by those who just want a better price.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Despite the vote and the city’s broader pledges to expand affordable housing options, signs of reluctance surfaced during discussions to nudge forward projects that would, ostensibly, advance that goal.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2025
Some prisons have sought to keep trans inmates separated from the general population by placing them in indefinite solitary confinement — conditions classified by the U.N. as torture — ostensibly for protection, or as a form of administrative segregation.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 24 Feb. 2025
Even in the wealthiest countries, those willing to pay extra for coffee whose production ostensibly does not come at the expense of forests or vulnerable workers are vastly outnumbered by those who just want a better price.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostensibly. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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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