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

With five removable attachments, the FlexFusion Ceramic Air Styler is essentially an entire hairstylist’s toolkit at home—without needing an expert-level skill set to use it. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026

While the advantages of retinoids like retinol—firmer, clearer, and brighter skin—are essentially fact at this point, what constitutes the best retinoid is a bit more debatable. — Deanna Pai, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026

Despite essentially two fewer appearances, Delane is fifth on the team with 20 tackles, including four run stops. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

Paddywax Hand-Painted Ceramic Candle Candles that come in especially nice vessels are essentially two gifts in one for anyone who loves to reuse the jars. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for essentially

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