technically

American  

[tek-nik-lee] / ˈtɛk nɪk li /

adverb

1. in a way that is peculiar to a certain specialized field of study or activity.

   The part of the body that relates to the saddle on a conventional machine is technically termed the perineum.

2. with regard to the detailed formal skills and competencies expected in the practice of a particular art or sport.

   There are many artists who study hard and become technically proficient, but they don't touch people in the way that a few great artists have.

3. in a way that relies on a strict interpretation of words or rules.

   Today (well, technically yesterday, as it's now 3 a.m.) I went to the immigration office to see what was holding things up.

4. in a way that has to do with technology or the trades as opposed to academics or the arts.

   If you are technically inclined, you can build a lighting system yourself with some good LED lights and a car battery.

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Other Word Forms

• hypertechnically
  adverb
• nontechnically
  adverb
• overtechnically
  adverb
• pretechnically
  adverb
• quasi-technically
  adverb
• untechnically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of technically

technical ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Something technically true is actually, really true or correct but it may not be the way people think about it. For example, although people call a tomato a vegetable, technically it’s a fruit. A birth father may technically be your father — according to a DNA test — but if you've lived with a stepfather your whole life, he’s your dad. Things that are technically true fulfill some exact requirement. Technically, a swing set might be in your neighbor’s yard, but since their kids are grown up, they consider it yours.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

technically

It had also argued that splitting up the service would be technically unfeasible.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Gamble's resignation reduced the panel to five but it is still able to function, and could technically continue to operate if there were two more resignations.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Current and former FAA officials said the practice is problematic—controllers may be on break, but could be needed in emergencies—and technically amounts to defrauding the U.S. government.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Because these businesses technically own themselves, it can be nearly impossible to identify the actual people responsible for their income and taxes when it comes to tax time.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

Hacienda Dorada was technically located somewhere in the wilderness between El Sacrificio and Ejido la Paloma.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall