What does ostensible mean?
Ostensible means Apparent, evident; meant for open display..
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/ɒˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl/ · adjective
Apparent, evident; meant for open display..
Motives, of course, may be mixed; but this only means that a man aims at a variety of goals by means of the same course of action. Similarly a man may have a strong motive or a weak one, an ulterior motive or an ostensible one.
In witch-trials the conflict was officially defined as between the accused and God, or between the accused and the Catholic (later Protestant) church, as God's earthly representative. […] Behind the ostensible conflict of the witch-trial lay the usual conflicts of social class, values, and human relationships.
The ostensible reason this provision was added to a bill on international trade is to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a grass-roots campaign that seeks to pressure Israel to change its policies toward the Palestinians.
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.
Use ostensible when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.
Ostensible means Apparent, evident; meant for open display..
Common synonyms include superficial, apparent, counterfeit, imitative.
Possible antonyms include ulterior.
Motives, of course, may be mixed; but this only means that a man aims at a variety of goals by means of the same course of action. Similarly a man may have a strong motive or a weak one, an ulterior motive or an ostensible one.
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