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

Though Rowan’s camp insists it isn’t technically a restaurant, it has clear elements of luxury dining.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

For Daisy Dixon, who teaches philosophy at Cardiff University, the idea has nothing to do with art that is poorly executed, intellectually meretricious, technically sloppy or aesthetically kitschy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

And still, the gag order remains—for both of them, technically.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Woodley’s Emmy nomination for guest actress in a drama series is technically for that hour.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

“I have the map of the aqueducts memorized, not these roads. And on paper you’re technically supposed to be smarter than me, right? So why don’t you tell us how to get out of here.”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman