technically

adverb

tech·​ni·​cal·​ly ˈtek-ni-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce technically (audio)
1
: with regard to or in accordance with a strict or literal interpretation of something (such as a rule, a term, or an official description or designation)
What they're doing is technically illegal.
Technically, a tomato is a fruit.
Terry-Thomas's character gives a splendid display of gamesmanship in a tennis match that he wins unfairly without technically cheating.Tim Stanley
The business happens to be in Woodside, N.Y., in the borough of Queens, which technically isn't part of Long Island …Paul R. Martin
While she wasn't technically beautiful, she was striking.Sue Grafton
2
: with regard to technology
a more technically advanced vehicle
a technically feasible solution
Looking through the telescope via computer from, say, your office is now technically possible …Aubrey Wallace
3
: with regard to technique (as in a performance or movement)
a technically flawless gymnastic routine
musicians learning to play a technically difficult passage
… he is a resourceful, technically polished actor …Michael Goodwin
Hagen's awareness that his own method of hitting the ball could be improved had earlier helped him make his swing more technically sound …Herbert Warren Wind

Examples of technically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This isn’t quite true — an analysis by The Star found 27 states (including D.C.) that don’t technically charge personal property taxes on vehicles, but 15 of them do charge other annual taxes based on car ownership. Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 The concept of Christian nationalism — technically, the belief that the secular government should favor Christianity or even be replaced by it — existed long before Trump’s rise to power. Will Carless, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 The Red Sox keep building out their outfield bleachers and the area around the ballpark — which is technically part of it now. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 View all partners LinkedIn Print In October 2022, Lebanon and Israel signed a maritime border agreement brokered by the U.S., a move interpreted as the beginning of normalizing relations between two countries technically at war. Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 The numbers are not technically final until the budget passes, something that is expected to happen this week without further changes. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Many chocolate chip cookie recipes call for semisweet chocolate chips, which technically fall under the umbrella of dark chocolate. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2024 What that means, technically: Halving refers to an event that happens about every four years. Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 My advice: rewatch the first chapter before seeing this more creatively, narratively and technically ambitious epic. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'technically.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of technically was in 1675

Dictionary Entries Near technically

Cite this Entry

“Technically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technically. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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