Definition of "ostensible" in English

adjective

1. Apparent, evident; meant for open display.

   • Motives, of course, may be mixed; but this only means that a man aims at a variety of goals by means of the same course of action. Similarly a man may have a strong motive or a weak one, an ulterior motive or an ostensible one.

2. Appearing as such; being such in appearance; professed, supposed (rather than demonstrably true or real).

   • The ostensible reason for his visit to New York was to see his mother, but the real reason was to get to the Yankees game the next day.