ostensivas

Ostensivas is the feminine plural form of the Portuguese adjective ostenso, meaning something that is displayed, presented or done openly and in a way that is intended to be noticed. The term conveys a sense of visibility, conspicuity, or explicit demonstration, as opposed to something concealed or discreet.

The word derives from Latin roots related to showing or revealing, and it is used across different registers to describe actions, appearances, or measures that aim for clear public visibility. In everyday language, statements such as “medidas ostensivas” or “comportamento ostensivo” indicate that something is meant to be seen or to signal a particular stance or precaution.

A common domain for the term is public security and policing. In this context, policiamento ostensivo refers to strategies that rely on a high level of visible police presence to deter crime and reassure the public. Phrases like patrulha ostensiva or ações ostensivas are used to describe operations designed to be conspicuously noticeable, rather than covert. The concept emphasizes deterrence through visibility and rapid response rather than through secrecy.

In broader use, ostensive measures can apply to events, campaigns, or institutions that seek to communicate clearly and openly, such as security protocols, warnings, or public information efforts. The nuance of ostensive emphasis overall is positive or neutral in most contexts, focusing on clarity and noticeability rather than subtlety.

See also: ostentação, ostentar, ostensible, ostentativo.