so-called

/ˌsəʊ ˈkɔːld/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌsəʊ ˈkɔːld/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsō-ˈkȯld/ (ame, mw)

so-called — adjective

1. placed before a noun to indicate that the label or description being used for a

1.形容詞B2
釋義

placed before a noun to indicate that the label or description being used for a person or thing is probably wrong or undeserved

例句

The so-called 'luxury' apartment had no hot water on the first night.

so-called + noun in scare quotes for irony

A so-called financial expert on television could not explain basic interest rates.

同義詞
  • alleged

    stronger suggestion of wrongdoing or accusation; 'so-called' questions the accuracy of the label, while 'alleged' questions the truth of a claim

  • ostensible

    formal register; describes the apparent reason or purpose that may hide the real one

  • self-styled

    implies the person gave themselves a title or description without outside recognition

文法句型

so-called + [doubtful/ironic noun phrase]

用法筆記

Always placed directly before a noun. The noun that follows typically carries an ironic or questioning tone — the writer is signalling that the label does not match reality.

常見錯誤

❌The manager is so-called strict.
✅The so-called strict manager never enforces the rules.
💡'so-called' cannot be used after a verb; it must go immediately before the noun it modifies.
❌I am a so-called teacher' (when describing yourself).
✅He is a so-called expert, but he has no qualifications.
💡'so-called' is usually used to question someone else's label, not your own.

2. placed before a term or expression to show that it is a label used by a particul

2.形容詞B2
釋義

placed before a term or expression to show that it is a label used by a particular group, and may not be familiar to the listener or reader yet

例句

The textbook introduces 'fractals' — a so-called term for infinitely repeating geometric patterns.

so-called + new term, followed by explanation

In programming forums, 'prompt engineering' is a so-called skill that every recruiter looks for.

同義詞
  • so‑called

    this sense is the neutral counterpart to the disapproving sense 1; in context, the tone is explanatory rather than doubtful

文法句型

so-called + [unfamiliar term / newly coined word]

用法筆記

Often followed by a comma or dash and an explanatory phrase that defines the unfamiliar term. The term in quotation marks is the new word being introduced.

常見錯誤

❌Algorithm' is a so-called term for a set of rules.' (redundant — the explanation already defines it).
✅Algorithm is a so-called term that computer programmers use.
💡the sentence should provide useful context about who uses the term.