The meaning of Ostensible

adjective

Said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality.

Usage examples:

The alleged conspirators

verb

Claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof.

Usage examples:

He alleged that he had been assaulted

adjective

Said or thought by some people to be the stated bad or illegal thing, although you have no proof

Usage examples:

It took 15 years for the alleged criminals (= people thought to be criminals) to prove their innoce…

adjective

Clearly visible or understood; obvious.

Usage examples:

For no apparent reason she laughed

adjective

Able to be seen or understood

Usage examples:

[ + that clause ] it was becoming increasingly apparent that he could no longer look after himself.…

adjective

That has been asserted, admitted, or stated publicly.

Usage examples:

An avowed atheist

verb

Assert or confess openly.

Usage examples:

He avowed that he had voted labour in every election

adjective

Stated or admitted

Usage examples:

An avowed enemy, an avowedly old-fashioned teacher

verb

State or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.

Usage examples:

The prime minister claimed that he was concerned about third world debt

noun

An assertion that something is true.

Usage examples:

He was dogged by the claim that he had cia links

noun

A demand or request for something considered one's due.

Usage examples:

The court had denied their claims to asylum

adjective

Openly or formally asserted or announced.

Usage examples:

Despite the company's declared good intentions, some remained sceptical

verb

Say something in a solemn and emphatic manner.

Usage examples:

The prime minister declared that the programme of austerity had paid off

adjective

A declared fact is one that someone has publicly said or admitted

Usage examples:

He is a declared supporter of the plan., it has always been my declared intention to sail around th…

adjective

Simulated or pretended; insincere.

Usage examples:

Her eyes widened with feigned shock

verb

Pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).

Usage examples:

She feigned nervousness

verb

Past simple and past participle of feign

Usage examples:

You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are., the prosecution claimed …

adjective

Directly demonstrative.

Usage examples:

Those results are ostensive evidence implying the contribution of apparent motion mechanisms to ilm…

adjective

Showing what a word or thing is or means by giving an example of it

Usage examples:

An ostensive definition requires that you show the person what is being referred to, and then say, …

adjective

Of, on, or from the outside.

Usage examples:

Outward pressure

adverb

Outwards.

Usage examples:

Cue balls also have sweet spots that radiate outward from the center.

adjective

Relating to how people, situations, or things seem to be, rather than how they are inside

Usage examples:

There were no outward signs that she was injured., outwardly, he seemed confident, but he was full …

verb

Suppose that something is the case on the basis of probability.

Usage examples:

I presumed that the man had been escorted from the building

verb

Past simple and past participle of presume

Usage examples:

[ + (that) ] i presume (that) they're not coming, since they haven't replied to the invitation., [ …

adjective

Not genuine; assumed.

Usage examples:

Eating ice cream with pretended unconcern

verb

Behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.

Usage examples:

I closed my eyes and pretended i was asleep

adjective

False

Usage examples:

His pretended enthusiasm/interest

adjective

(of a quality, feeling, or belief) claimed openly but often falsely.

Usage examples:

For all her professed populism, she was seen as remote from ordinary people

verb

Claim that one has (a quality or feeling), especially when this is not the case.

Usage examples:

He had professed his love for her only to walk away

adjective

A professed belief is one that someone has made known

Usage examples:

She is a professed monarchist., his professed love of women seems a little odd when you consider ho…

adjective

Appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; alleged.

Usage examples:

The purported marriage was void

verb

Appear to be or do something, especially falsely.

Usage examples:

She is not the person she purports to be

adjective

Claimed but not proved to be true

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] the new brand of potato chips is purported to be lower in cholesterol, fat, and…

adjective

Appearing to be real or true, but not necessarily being so; apparent.

Usage examples:

Ellen's seeming indifference to the woman's fate

noun

The outward appearance or aspect of someone or something, especially when considered as deceptive or as distinguished from reality.

Usage examples:

That dissidence between inward reality and outward seeming

verb

Give the impression of being something or having a particular quality.

Usage examples:

Dawn seemed annoyed

adjective

Named or called in a particular way

Usage examples:

Married taxpayers are hit hard by the so-called marriage penalty., these so-called experts don’t kn…

adjective

Superficially plausible, but actually wrong.

Usage examples:

A specious argument

adjective

Seeming to be right or true, but really wrong or false

Usage examples:

A specious distinction, his whole argument is specious.

adjective

Existing or occurring at or on the surface.

Usage examples:

The building suffered only superficial damage

adjective

On the surface only; not deep

Usage examples:

A superficial wound, her book on the history of cars in america was extremely superficial., the sto…

adjective

Generally assumed or believed to be the case, but not necessarily so.

Usage examples:

People admire their supposed industriousness

verb

Think or assume that something is true or probable but lack proof or certain knowledge.

Usage examples:

I suppose i got there about noon

adjective

Responsible

Usage examples:

The children are supposed to be at school by 8:45 a.m., these batteries are supposed to last for a …

noun

The outside part or uppermost layer of something.

Usage examples:

The earth's surface

adjective

Relating to or found on the surface of something.

Usage examples:

Surface layers

verb

Rise or come up to the surface of the water or the ground.

Usage examples:

He surfaced from his dive