partly

[pahrt-lee]

adverb

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

   His statement is partly true.

partly

/ ˈpɑːtlɪ /

adverb

1. to some extent; not completely

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of partly¹

First recorded in 1515–25; part + -ly

Example Sentences

U.S. prices for coal have dropped significantly following a rally in 2022, which was partly driven by the Russia-Ukraine war’s disruption to Europe’s energy markets.

Read more on MarketWatch

Their fossil record, however, is limited, partly because of preservation challenges and a lack of studies focusing on Southern Hemisphere specimens.

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AI startups are losing tens of billions of dollars more than they would have partly because of this dynamic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Officers from Kent Police said they did so partly because he was driving someone else's car and had not pre-booked his ticket.

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JPMorgan Chase reported higher profits Tuesday driven partly by higher investment banking fees as the company pointed to US economic resilience despite a slowing job market.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• at least 
• partially 
• slightly 
• somewhat