in name only

Having the status of something only with label or terminology, but not in reality; nominally. He's a member of the party in name only—his voting record shows that his values are very divergent.See also: name

in name only

nominally; not actual, only by terminology. The president is head of the country in name only. Congress makes the laws. Mr. Smith is the boss of the Smith Company in name only. Mrs. Smith handles all the business affairs.See also: name

in name only

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] See also: name

in name only

by description but not in reality. 1993 Harper's Magazine In Western Europe the Communist parties shrank year after year…they had become small-bourgeois capitalist parties, Communist in name only. See also: name

in ˌname ˈonly

officially recognized but not existing in reality: He’s party leader in name only.See also: name

in name only

in name only

in name only

in name only

in name only

in name only

in ˌname ˈonly

in name only

Synonyms for in name only

adv by title or repute though not in fact

Synonyms