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Added 9 October 2026

ostensible

/ɒˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl/ adjective

Latin root: ostensus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ostensible at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Apparent, evident; meant for open display.
Appearing as such; being such in appearance; professed, supposed (rather than demonstrably true or real).
The ostensible reason for his visit to New York was to see his mother, but the real reason was to get to the Yankees game the next day.

Origin

Borrowed from French ostensible, formed with the suffix -ible, from Latin ostensus, the past participle of ostendō (“show”), itself from obs- (“in front of”) (akin to ob- (“in the way”)) + tendō (“stretch”) (akin to Ancient Greek τείνω (teínō)). Cf. ostentatious.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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