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Synonyms

partly

American  
[pahrt-lee] / ˈpɑrt li /

adverb

  1. in part; to some extent or degree; not wholly; partially.

    His statement is partly true.
partly British  
/ ˈpɑːtlɪ /

adverb

  1. to some extent; not completely

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

Partly and partially are to some extent interchangeable, but partly should be used when referring to a part or parts of something: the building is partly (not partially ) of stone, while partially is preferred for the meaning to some extent: his mother is partially (not partly ) sighted

Etymology

Origin of partly

First recorded in 1515–25; part + -ly

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.

KT’s 1Q operating profit likely fell 29% on year, partly due to higher costs from a customer retention program following a 2025 data breach, the analysts write in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Globalstar stock has more than tripled in value over the past 12 months, driven partly by an earlier agreement with Apple.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The cost of partly finished goods shot up 2.6%, with accounting for three-quarters of the increase.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Iran had continued to pump crude to Asia since the start of the Middle East war, partly shielded by its elusive "dark fleet".

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

And never mind what he said, deep inside I did feel like it was partly my fault.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

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.