ostensible

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɑˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl/ UK /ɒˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #128274

Meanings

1

adj
Stated or appearing to be the reason or purpose, though the real one may be different.

The ostensible reason for the meeting was to plan the party, but really he wanted to discuss the budget.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · stated or appearing to be... apparent seeming ostensive

Opposites

ulterior

Word family

Derived forms inostensibleostensibilityostensiblyunostensible

Related forms ostensive ostentation ostentatious

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

ostensible purpose
a stated or apparent aim that may conceal a different real intention

Adjective + noun

Etymology

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. also Medieval Latin ostensibilis.

*tend- Proto-Indo-European ostensible French ostensus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# ostensible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɑˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ɒˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl/
**Frequency rank:** 128274

## Meanings
1. Stated or appearing to be the reason or purpose, though the real one may be different.

## Examples
- The ostensible reason for the meeting was to plan the party, but really he wanted to discuss the budget.

## Antonyms
- ulterior

## Derived Forms
- inostensible
- ostensibility
- ostensibly
- unostensible

## Related Forms
- ostensive
- ostentation
- ostentatious

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tend-
- Root: ostensible
- Root: ostensus

## Etymology
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. also Medieval Latin ostensibilis.

## AI Etymology
Ostensible is 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. also Medieval Latin ostensibilis. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include *tend- (Proto-Indo-European), ostensible (French), and ostensus (Latin). Current senses include stated or appearing to be the reason or purpose, though the real one may be different. The wider family includes derived forms such as inostensible, ostensibility, ostensibly, and unostensible; related words such as ostensive, ostentation, and ostentatious.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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