approximately

American  

[uh-prok-suh-mit-lee] / əˈprɒk sə mɪt li /

adverb

1. about; roughly; more or less.

   It’s approximately 25 miles from here to El Paso.

   Add approximately 2 cups of milk or water.

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approximately British  

/ əˈprɒksɪmɪtlɪ /

adverb

1. close to; around; roughly or in the region of

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Etymology

Origin of approximately

First recorded in 1845–50; approximate ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Explanation

Approximately is close to a particular time, measurement, or number — but it's not exact. If you plan to meet a friend at approximately 2:00, it will be okay if you are a bit early or late. Approximately has its roots in the Latin word proximus, meaning "nearly." So, approximately means "about" or "close to." If you tell someone there will be approximately seventy people at a dinner, it means you expect seventy people, though the actual number could be a little more or a little less than seventy.

Example Sentences

The Mirabel headquarters and manufacturing facilities employs approximately 4,000 people, while another facility in Mobile, Alabama, is home to the second A220 manufacturing facility.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

For the full fiscal year, the company forecast adjusted EPS growth of approximately 12%, excluding the impact of a 53rd week.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

The company had previously forecast approximately breakeven adjusted earnings per share excluding the equity swap.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Vodafone has indicated the reduction was approximately 40%.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

When Toussaint L’Ouverture led a revolt of black Haitian slaves in 1801, Napoleon sent his brother-in-law, General Charles LeClerc, and a military force of approximately 29,000 to crush the rebels.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy

Related Words

• almost
• generally
• relatively
• roughly