in name only

Idioms and Phrases

Also, only in name . Nominally, not actually. For example, He's the chief executive in name only; his vice-president makes all the decisions , or Theirs was a marriage only in name; they lived on different continents . [Late 1300s]

Example Sentences

He said BaronHR was often an employer “in name only” because “clients dictated the employment terms and conditions” and that since 2018 he had had “restricted involvement.”

From New York Times

A passerby threw a comment in Flake’s direction: “RINO!” — short for “Republican in name only.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump later denounced those aides as “RINOs,” Republicans in name only, and promised to appoint true loyalists in a second term.

From Los Angeles Times

Snyder argued that Girardi was running the firm in name only and called it a “Weekend at Bernie’s” situation where partners at the firm were “propping him up to keep the party going.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It may be Little Tokyo in name only and not have anything to do with the Little Tokyo that we know,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ostensible
• titular