poorly

American  

[poor-lee] / ˈpʊər li /

adverb

1. in a poor manner or way.

   The team played poorly.

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adjective

1. in poor health; somewhat ill.

   I hear she's been poorly.

poorly British  

/ ˈpɔː-, ˈpʊəlɪ /

adverb

1. in a poor way or manner; badly

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adjective

1. informal (usually postpositive) in poor health; rather ill

   she's poorly today

Etymology

Origin of poorly

First recorded in 1250–1300, poorly is from the Middle English word pourely. See poor, -ly

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poorly

As a result, the evolutionary path, anatomical innovations, and ecological adaptations involved in insect terrestrialization have remained poorly understood.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Researchers say menstrual health remains poorly understood despite being a key indicator of overall health, partly because of a lack of high-quality data.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Homeowners say their builders have made mistakes as they attempt to put up homes as quickly and cheaply as possible, installing improperly sized HVACs, putting in windows incorrectly, or poorly ventilating attics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

I held my breath as the car worked its way out of the shopping center parking lot, briefly skirmishing with incoming traffic at a poorly marked four-way stop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

The records had been poorly kept, but among the guests who had arrived on Monday, October 1, Geyer found a familiar entry: “Three Canning children.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• badly
• crudely
• inadequately
• insufficiently