Definition of: ostensible

(os·ten′sə·bəl) adjective
Offered as real or having the character represented; seeming; professed or pretended. [<F <L ostensus, pp. of ostendere show <ob- against + tendere stretch]
—os·ten′si·bly adverb Synonyms: apparent, assigned, avowed, colorable, displayed, exhibited, expressed, plausible, professed, shown, specious. A man's apparent purpose or motive is what appears on the surface, with or without his own intent; his ostensible motive or purpose is that which is assigned, avowed, displayed by him; the word often implying that the ostensible may be only the pretended, a specious cover for a purpose or motive of a different sort. Compare synonyms for APPARENT. Antonyms: actual, genuine, real, true, veritable.