The definition of ostensible is something that seems to be true but it may not be true. How is Miss Lottie's house described? Look it up now! ostensible authority authority that appears from the circumstances to exist whatever the reality may be. ‘The ostensible reason is that he does not wish to relinquish his seat in the European parliament.’ ‘Later, the company risked its stance of ostensible objectivity by joining the preacher and his family for a picnic supper at a farm north of the city.’ Alleged to be real or genuine. However, the agent may not in fact have real authority. The manager of a shop has ostensible authority in relation to many transactions, regardless of what authority the owner may actually have given him. An ostensible subcontractor is a subcontractor that performs primary and vital requirements of a contract, or of an order under a multiple award schedule contract, or a subcontractor upon which the prime contractor is unusually reliant. What appears to be such as a real estate agent's seeming authority to act on behalf of a principal. The term is coming under the purview of Law Legal Terms and Definitions Ostensible authority noun * . What does ostensible mean? From Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. To the contrary, the rule requires SBA to evaluate whether the firms are ostensible subcontractors; if they are, they will be considered joint venturers and affiliated for the purposes of a size determination. Ostensible authority may continue after actual authority has terminated, by the Principal revoking the actual authority of the Agent. OHA pointed out that the ostensible subcontractor rule does not include any exceptions for joint ventures where both members are small. Definition of "Ostensible" Mary Kay Carter, Real Estate Agent Realty One Group Freedom. What does ostensible mean? Ostensible means plausible rather than demonstrably true or real; apparent.These poor ostensible freemen who were sharing their breakfast and their talk with me, were as full of humble reverence for their king and Church and nobility as their worst enemy could desire. 15. Ostensibly definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. There was something pitifully ludicrous about it. Apparent or supposed. 14. They do not want to admit to themselves or each other that they are afraid. Why do the children need an ostensible reason to stop before continuing to Miss Lottie's house? This is known as “ostensible agency,” or “apparent authority.” When an employer does something to suggest that the independent contractor actually works for him, or fails to correct this assumption, it can be held liable for the independent contractor’s actions. This continuation of power to bind the Principal may arise where the Contractor has acted in good faith on prior conduct and does not have notice of the termination of the actual authority of the agent. Ostensible agency (also referred to as apparent authority) is a term that refers to a situation when a third party is led to believe that a person was acting as the agent or on behalf of another..