If a reason or purpose is ostensible, it is the one people put forward — the one they want you to see — but it is usually not the real one. The ostensible purpose of a meeting might be “to share news”, when the real purpose is to tell someone off. The ostensible reason for a trip might be work, when everyone can see it is a holiday. The word always carries a little doubt: the speaker does not fully believe the official story.

If a reason or purpose is ostensible如果一個理由或目的是ostensible, it is the one people put forward就是別人提出來 — the one they want you to see想讓你看到的那個 — but it is usually not the real one但通常不是真正的理由。The ostensible purpose of a meeting一場會議表面上的目的 might be "to share news"可能是「分享消息」, when the real purpose is to tell someone off但真正的目的是要罵人。The ostensible reason for a trip一趟旅行表面上的理由 might be work可能是工作, when everyone can see it is a holiday但大家都看得出來其實是去玩。The word這個字 always carries a little doubt總是帶著一點懷疑: the speaker說話的人 does not fully believe the official story並不完全相信那個官方說法。

It is a rather formal, grown-up word. You meet it in news, essays, and careful talk, not much in the playground.

It它 is a rather formal, grown-up word算是滿正式、成熟的字。You meet it你會看到它出現 in news, essays, and careful talk在新聞、文章、正經的談話裡, not much in the playground不太會出現在小孩玩耍的場合。

You can stretch it a little — an ostensible job title, an ostensible friendship — but the core is the same: this is the face of the thing, not the inside.

You can stretch it a little你也可以稍微延伸著用 — an ostensible job title像ostensible的職稱, an ostensible friendship或ostensible的友情 — but the core is the same不過核心意思一樣: this is the face of the thing這是這件事的表面, not the inside不是裡子。

Though actually, it does not mean “showy” or “flashy”. That is ostentatious, a cousin that students mix up with this one because both look as if they have something to do with showing.

Though actually不過事實上, it does not mean "showy" or "flashy"它不是「愛炫耀」或「花俏」的意思。That is ostentatious那是ostentatious的意思, a cousin一個表親字 that students mix up with this one學生常把它跟這個字搞混, because both look as if they have something to do with showing因為兩個字看起來都好像跟「show」有關。