What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ostensible
Example
The ostensible reason for the meeting was to discuss budget cuts, but it was really about restructuring the company. [ostensible: adjective]
Example
She made an ostensible effort to clean her room, but it was still messy. [ostensible: adjective]
superficial
Example
He only had a superficial understanding of the topic. [superficial: adjective]
Example
Her compliments seemed superficial and insincere. [superficial: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Superficial is more commonly used than ostensible in everyday language. Superficial is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ostensible is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ostensible and superficial?
Both ostensible and superficial are formal words, but ostensible is slightly more formal than superficial due to its less common usage and more specific meaning.
