ostensible

/ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-bəl/

borrowed from Medieval Latin ostensibilis "perceptible, visible, capable of demonstration," from Latin ostensus, variant of ostentus, past participle of ostendere "to hold out for inspection, show, make clear by one's actions, demonstrate" (from os-, assimilated variant of obs-, variant of ob- "toward, facing, against" + tendere "to extend outward, stretch, spread out") + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy (of being acted upon)"

adjective

  1. intended for display : open to view

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

apparent illusory seeming ostensible mean not actually being what appearance indicates. apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge. illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.