terminally

American  

[tur-muh-nl-ee] / ˈtɜr mə nl i /

adverb

1. in a way that leads or is expected to lead shortly to death; fatally or lethally.

   We offer care and support for terminally ill people and their families through home nursing.

2. Informal. in a way that is beyond hope or rescue.

   I skipped her much-hyped interview with the terminally dull host of that new talk show.

3. at the end.

   In the remark “Pretty hot today, eh?” the terminally positioned tag “eh?” invites agreement.

4. Botany. at the end of a branch or stem.

   The plant has flower clusters 10–20 mm in diameter, which are located terminally.

5. Biology. at the conclusion of the process of modification from a stem cell.

   The cells terminally differentiate as they migrate from the basal layer of the epidermis to the surface.

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Other Word Forms

• nonterminally adverb
• subterminally adverb

Etymology

Origin of terminally

terminal ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The bill, which would allow terminally ill people expected to die within six months to seek medical help to end their life, needs approval from both houses before it can become law.

From BBC

In a small minority of assisted-death cases, patients may not have been terminally ill, but sought to end their lives due to a long and complicated illness that had significantly impacted their quality of life.

From BBC

The Scottish Parliament has voted against legislation that would have given terminally ill people in Scotland the right to choose an assisted death - but what happens now?

From BBC

In the Westminster bill, a terminally ill person is defined as someone who has less than six months to live.

From BBC

Under the current proposals, two independent medical professionals would be required to confirm a person is terminally ill and has mental capacity before assistance could be provided.

From BBC