cordially
Americanadverb
-
in a courteous and friendly way; graciously.
You are cordially invited to take part in the festivities.
-
deeply and sincerely.
I was cordially ashamed of how we had acted.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cordially
Explanation
Cordially means "doing something in a heartfelt way." If you cordially welcome a stranger into your house, you make him or her feel comfortable, because you show that you're truly glad for the visit. The adverb cordially comes from the adjective cordial, which come from the Middle Latin word cordialis meaning "of or for the heart." Something that is done cordially has warmth and friendliness to it, like a host who greets people cordially at a party. In fact, formal party invitations sometimes use the phrase "you are cordially invited," which means you are happily encouraged to attend.
Vocabulary lists containing cordially
The Phantom Tollbooth
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"The Red-Headed League" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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"The Mixer" by P.G. Wodehouse
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Defensively, if cordially, he wrote back to say he had already revised the book twice for clarity and didn’t think further work would enhance “lucidity.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
The justices continue to insist that there is no tension among them and that they agree cordially on all things.
From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026
Before his speech, Trump cordially shook the hands of all four justices present.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
You are cordially invited to witness the moment a music loving bride celebrated her wedding crowd-surfing to the band that led her to meet her husband.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2024
Their tent seemed to be pitched right alongside a kind of thoroughfare to the field, and Ministry members kept hurrying up and down it, greeting Mr. Weasley cordially as they passed.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
