essentially

adverb

es·​sen·​tial·​ly i-ˈsen(t)-shə-lē 

-ˈsench-lē

: in essence : fundamentally

—used to identify or stress the basic or essential character or nature of a person or thing or to say that a description is basically true or accurate

He's essentially a good man.

… painting, essentially a two-dimensional art …

—Herbert Read

The fact that so many bloggers are essentially anonymous allows them to spew rancor, rumor, lies, and obscenities.

—Gil Troy

Aphids feed on the sugary phloem of plants. Essentially they steal the product of photosynthesis.

—Caleb Rounds

Examples of essentially in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the recent past, the Republican party attracted doctor-candidates who were essentially small business people who had concerns about high taxes and government overreach. — Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

At an election party Tuesday night, Hyde-Smith essentially claimed victory. — Spencer Kimball,garrett Downs,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,justin Papp, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Keeping your pearly whites clean essentially amounts to a fight against the acid-producing bacteria that call our teeth and gums home. — Mike McRae, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026

The new congressional boundaries Republicans enacted in May essentially eliminate four congressional districts most recently represented by Democrats. — Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for essentially

• potentially
• circumferentially
• experientially
• confidentially
• exponentially
• inferentially