Word of the Day : June 28, 2018

ostensible \ah-STEN-suh-bul\ adjective

Definition

1 : intended for display : open to view

2 : being such in appearance : plausible rather than demonstrably true or real

Did You Know?

Like its synonyms apparent and seeming, ostensible implies a discrepancy between what appears to be and what actually is. Apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may not be borne out by more rigorous examination ("the apparent cause of the accident"). Seeming implies a character in the thing being observed that gives it the appearance of something else ("the seeming simplicity of the story"). Ostensible, which descends from the Latin word ostendere ("to show"), suggests a discrepancy between a declared or implied aim or reason and the true one.

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Aired June 28, 2018

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