historically
- 1In the past or by long tradition, as history shows.
Historically, the region's economy depended on fishing and timber.
She teaches at a historically black university in the South.
Similartraditionally, formerly
Note
It does two jobs depending on where it sits. At the head of a sentence it frames a generalization about the past: Historically, the region lived on fishing and timber. Before an adjective it names a long-standing identity, as in historically black churches or a historically black university, where it marks tradition and origin rather than describing the present.
- 2In a way that relates to history or the historical record, or in a manner that is historic.
Few scholars doubt that the king existed historically, though most of the legends about him are invented.
The novel is historically important as one of the first to describe factory life.
Note
Two adjectives meet in this adverb, since it can be built from historical or from historic. That is why it covers both the record of the past, as when scholars agree that a figure existed historically, and what history marks as significant, as in a novel that is historically important. Context, not spelling, decides which is meant.
- 3To a degree that is unprecedented or extremely rare.
Mortgage rates stayed historically low for most of the decade.
Critics called it a historically corrupt administration, unlike anything the country had seen.
Similarexceptionally, unusually, remarkably
Note
Here the adverb measures against the whole record and finds nothing to match. With numbers it stays close to a statistic, as when mortgage rates are historically low; with conduct it becomes a verdict, as in a historically unethical presidency, and a reader should weigh it as the writer's judgment rather than a measured fact.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of historically apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
Formed from historical + -ly, or from historic + -ally.