adv
Common
historically
hih-STO-rihk-lee
Historically (adv) means With reference to history, or in terms of the historical record. Example: “Historically, this village has relied on fishing to earn its living.”
adv
1
With reference to history, or in terms of the historical record.
"Historically, this village has relied on fishing to earn its living."
"Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed historically."
"Historically, the region has been a crossroads of trade."
"Prices have historically risen during the summer months."
"Historically speaking, this company has always collected payment before starting work."
How to use historically
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLooking at things from a historical or long-term perspective.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more historically
- Superlative
- most historically
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_____, this village has relied on fishing to earn its living.
Etymology
Formed from historical plus -ly, or alternatively from historic plus -ally.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for historically
See all rhymes for historically →Frequently asked questions
What does “historically” mean?
The word “historically” means with reference to history, or in terms of the historical record. In plain terms, looking at things from a historical or long-term perspective.
How do you pronounce “historically”?
“Historically” is pronounced hih-STO-rihk-lee (/hɪˈstɔɹɪkli/ in IPA).
How do you use “historically” in a sentence?
Here is “historically” used in a sentence: “Historically, the region has been a crossroads of trade.”
What part of speech is “historically”?
“Historically” is an adverb.
Is “historically” a common word?
“Historically” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "historically" and "traditionally"?
"Historically" refers to what the historical record shows, meaning what actually happened over time. "Traditionally" refers to customs and practices handed down within a group, whether or not they are documented history. A claim can be true traditionally but weak historically if the custom is recent or the record says otherwise.
Is "historically speaking" different from "historically"?
They mean the same thing; "historically speaking" is simply a slightly more conversational way of flagging that a statement is made with reference to history. In concise writing, plain "historically" is usually preferred because "speaking" adds no extra meaning.
Is it correct to say "historically low" or "historically high"?
Yes. In phrases like "historically low interest rates", "historically" means "in terms of the historical record", so the phrase claims the level is low by comparison with the past. It is a standard and widely used construction in news and financial writing.
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