Understanding Soi-Disant: Unpacking the Meaning and Usage of a French Phrase

Soi-disant is a French phrase that means "so-called" or "alleged." It is often used to express skepticism or doubt about something, especially if it is not well-established or if there is controversy surrounding it.

For example, you might say "Soi-disant experts claim that this new technology will revolutionize the industry, but I'm not so sure." This implies that the experts are not actually experts, or that their claims are not well-founded.

Soi-disant can also be used to describe something that is alleged to exist or be true, but which is not yet proven or confirmed. For instance, "There have been soi-disant sightings of Bigfoot in this area, but none have been verified." This suggests that the sightings are not reliable or trustworthy.