generally

[ jen-er-uh-lee ]

adverb

1. usually; commonly; ordinarily:

   He generally comes home at noon.

   Antonyms: seldom

2. with respect to the larger part; for the most part:

   a generally accurate interpretation of the facts.

3. without reference to or disregarding particular persons, things, situations, etc., that may be an exception:

   generally speaking.

generally

/ ˈdʒɛnrəlɪ /

adverb

1. usually; as a rule
2. commonly or widely
3. without reference to specific details or facts; broadly

Word History and Origins

Origin of generally¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; general + -ly

Synonym Study

See often.

Example Sentences

"It's a lot more costly, generally, than what you would class as a small molecule drug that you can chemically synthesise."

From BBC

The conditions need to be right, including early-evening clear skies, generally in February, and plenty of water.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact there are generally three or four each year.

From BBC

With a Nations League promotion secured the year before and a major tournament to prepare for, the decision was taken to take on friendlies, generally, against top-ranked nations.

From BBC

The sympathizers, who are to all appearances still innocuous fellow-citizens in a nontotalitarian society, can hardly be called single-minded fanatics; through them, the movements make their fantastic lies more generally acceptable, can spread their propaganda in milder, more respectable forms, until the whole atmosphere is poisoned with totalitarian elements which are hardly recognizable as such but appear to be normal political reactions or opinions.

From Salon

Related Words

• broadly
• commonly
• customarily
• largely
• mostly
• normally
• ordinarily
• publicly
• roughly
• typically
• universally
• usually
• widely