/ɑːˈstensəbl/
os·ten·sible
BrE /ɒˈstensəbl/
NAmE /ɑːˈstensəbl/
[only before noun] (formal)
seeming or stated to be real or true, when this is perhaps not the case
SYN apparent
The ostensible reason for his absence was illness.
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os·ten·sibly
BrE /ɒˈstensəbli/
NAmE /ɑːˈstensəbli/
Troops were sent in, ostensibly to protect the civilian population.