Ostensible
/ɒˈstɛn.sɪ.bəl/noun
Presented as true or real, but not necessarily so.
Did you know?Ostensible comes from Latin *ostendere*, “to show,” the same root behind *ostentatious* and *ostension*—a family of words built around the ancient power of making something appear.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
ostendere
“to show, point out, display”
Late Latin
Latin
ostensus
“shown, displayed”
Old French
Old French
ostensible
“capable of being shown or demonstrated”
16th Century
English
ostensible
“capable of being shown or demonstrated; apparent”
Modern English
English
ostensible
“appearing to be true or real, but perhaps not actually so”