ostensible

About 0.74 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Apparent, evident; meant for open display.
2. adjective Appearing as such; being such in appearance; professed, supposed (rather than demonstrably true or real).

   The ostensible reason for his visit to New York was to see his mother, but the real reason was to get to the Yankees game the next day.

Similar words

ostensive seeming apparent imitative superficial counterfeit manifest conspicuous visible obvious

Often followed by

purpose reason object cause subject authority and motive aim reasons