ostensible purpose
collocation in Englishmeaningsofostensibleandpurpose
These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withpurpose.
ostensible
adjective[before noun]
uk/ɒsˈten.sə.bəl/us/ɑːˈsten.sə.bəl/
appearing or claiming to be one thing when it is really ...
See more atostensible
purpose
noun
uk/ˈpɜː.pəs/us/ˈpɝː.pəs/
why you do something or why ...
See more atpurpose
(Definition ofostensibleandpurposefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)
Examplesofostensible purpose
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
The examination is deleterious in its effects upon many children and parents, distorts the pattern of primary schools and fails, to a very considerable degree, in itsostensiblepurpose.
From the
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At one stage, there was agreement among all parties that we needed to do much more to make legislation effective in terms of itsostensiblepurpose.
From the
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Itsostensiblepurposewas to develop multilateral rules that would ensure international investment was governed in a more systematic and uniform way between states.
From This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
Theostensiblepurposeof this denial of direct judicial review is to expedite the determination of questions concerning union representation.
From This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
Theostensiblepurposeof this interview: to find out how the candidate handles stress.
From This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
While the definition used is broad, such breadth is essential to capture theostensiblepurposeof environmental concern and environmental action: reduced environmental damage.
From theCambridge English Corpus
A considerable number of reports impugning theostensiblepurposeof concrete foundations for tennis courts, etc.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In fact, that is theostensiblepurposeof the means test.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theostensiblepurposeof the directive is to ensure that rights can be enforced.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
Theostensiblepurposeof these regional development agencies is the promotion of commercial interests.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The chief value of this debate has not been what itsostensiblepurposeappeared to be.
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is not for theostensiblepurposeof selling goods.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theostensiblepurposeof my amendment is a modest one.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It hit manufacturing industry and failed, as we all now know, even in itsostensiblepurposeof controlling the money supply.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theostensiblepurposefor that was that she could analyse what were and were not the effects of subversive influence.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Some of it may be counterproductive, even if itsostensiblepurposeis redistribution.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The climate change levy is in truth a tax, theostensiblepurposeof which is to reduce carbon emissions.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Itsostensiblepurposewas to prevent funds from being moved around in anticipation of takeovers.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That was theostensiblepurposeof privatisation.
From the
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Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theostensiblepurposeof these events is to bring young people together in very large numbers to listen, and perhaps to dance, to a particular kind of music.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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