not exactly

idiom

informal

1

—used in speech as a mild way of saying "no" especially to indicate that what someone has said is not completely correct or true

"He's your boss, isn't he?" "Not exactly."

"Did everything go the way you planned it?" "Not exactly."

2

—used as a humorous or ironic way to say "not"

He's not exactly the smartest guy I've ever met.

Examples of not exactly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And there’s working with people who are not exactly palatable, but who have significant sway in the region—like Dan Gertler, a billionaire Israeli businessman whose name has long been a byword for shady deals in Congo. —Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

Just not exactly in the way the policy intends. —Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026

See the scene And while a big tent on the beach packed with people downing burgers, drinking tequila or Kim Crawford wine and dancing to a DJ with a soft spot for Bad Bunny is not exactly luxurious, the black truffle remained for this event. —Connie Ogle updated February 20, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026

Plus the labor market is not exactly booming and people have noticed. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for not exactly

• abstractly