Definitions

so-called

[soh-kawld] / ˈsoʊˈkɔld /

ADJECTIVE

supposed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleged formal purported self-styled

WEAK

allegedly commonly named itular nominal ostensible pretended professed self-named soi-disant wrongly named

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

So-called Y2K fashion has already caught on with members of Generation Z. Now, some of the hottest stock-market names from that era are also being embraced by a new cohort of investors.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

So-called "novel breeding techniques" are a closely-guarded secret.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

So-called startup cowboys are making Lockhart, Texas, the new tech hotspot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

So-called bread-and-butter issues, such as jobs and the economy, repeatedly rank much higher than foreign matters.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2026

“What I’m trying to say is, this number here is what you end up with. So-called money in the pocket.”

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

Vocabulary lists containing so-called

Booked

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The Losers Club

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We Are Displaced

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