ostensible Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite appearing as such but not necessarily so
    apparent; seeming.
    • for all his apparent wealth he had no money to pay the rent
    • the committee investigated some apparent discrepancies
    • the ostensible truth of their theories
    • his seeming honesty
  2. adjective satellite represented or appearing as such; pretended
    ostensive.
    • His ostensible purpose was charity, his real goal popularity

WordNet

Os*ten"si*ble adjective
Etymology
From L. ostensus, p. p. of ostendere to show, prop., to stretch out before; fr. prefix obs- (old form of ob-) + tendere to stretch. See Tend.
Definitions
  1. Capable of being shown; proper or intended to be shown. R. Walpole.
  2. Shown; exhibited; declared; avowed; professed; apparent; -- often used as opposed to real or actual; as, an ostensible reason, motive, or aim. D. Ramsay.

Webster 1913