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

Sometimes it’s a box of cinnamon-sugar doughnuts that are technically a day old but spiritually perfect.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

Co-first author Alexandra Beaudry-Richard, MSc, said the findings suggest that low but technically normal B12 could have broader effects than previously recognized.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

Cummins has a strong employee base and low turnover, giving it the ability to grow in the development of technically complex products.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Land ownership in Barbuda is collective, meaning that individual citizens have the right to occupy a plot of land by applying for a lease, but technically, they do not privately own it.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

“I don’t think she was technically from Seattle,” Serenity says.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day