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so-called

UK/ˈsəʊˌkɔːld/US/ˈsoʊˌkɔld/
adjectiveB2leans written

So-called means called that, though the name may not fit. The so-called experts.

It is nearly always sceptical, which is why it is dangerous in careful writing. So-called can also be neutral, introducing a technical term the reader may not know.

Definitions of so-called

  1. 1adjectiveso-calledCalled that, though the name may not fit.B2

    “The so-called reforms made everything slower.”

so-called is a quality.

Where it comes from

From so + called.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

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