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

Explanation

Anything that happens terminally happens at the end of something, which might be a plane ride or someone's life. Terminally describes something at the end, the last call, the big curtain coming down. Since terminal things involve an ending or something that ends, the adverb terminally also refers to endings. Although it’s often sad, as endings are, the word itself has the courtesy to end in –ly so it’s easy to spot as an adverb. Someone terminally ill has a deadly illness. This is a word for endings: after something happens terminally, it's over.

Example Sentences

In Florida, a viral video shows a woman, overwhelmed with emotion, pleading with an immigration judge to free her terminally ill father from ICE detention.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Several of the people who were listed as terminally ill beneficiaries for the claims allegedly had common addresses.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

And Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney called for better social work and mental health service signposting for the terminally ill.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

"This is the right Bill at the right time. It's time to give terminally ill Scots that compassionate choice," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

Even considering that all had been considered terminally ill when treated, Stone thought this a dismal outcome and recommended that the therapy be discarded.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik