generally

American  

[jen-er-uh-lee] / ˈdʒɛn ər ə li /

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.

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generally British  

/ ˈdʒɛnrəlɪ /

adverb

1. usually; as a rule

2. commonly or widely

3. without reference to specific details or facts; broadly

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Related Words

See often.

Etymology

Origin of generally

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

Example Sentences

A Morningstar study found S&P 500 index funds with fees below 0.05% generally outperformed those charging ten times more.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

"More generally, the SNP welcomes the verdict against Mr Linden and commends the bravery of the individuals who came forward and shared their experiences with the police."

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Business was brisk on two days The Times observed, and the waiting times were generally only a few minutes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Investigations into individuals or corporations declined for prosecution are generally not reported to courts and usually only disclosed in summary form by the DOJ in annual reports.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

Now, upon his father’s marriage, it was very generally proposed, as a most proper attention, that the visit should take place.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

Related Words

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