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Definition of partly

partly

/ˈpɑːrt.li/
part · ly
Adjective:partial
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partly Lexical Profile

partly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

To some extent; in part, or not completely.

Example

"The project's delay was partly due to unexpected supply chain shortages."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for partly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for partly

Word Nuance & Usage

'Partly' and 'partially' are often interchangeable, though 'partly' typically emphasizes that something consists of distinct parts or reasons (e.g., 'The house is partly wood and partly brick'), whereas 'partially' more often indicates an incomplete degree or state (e.g., 'partially blind').

• Rhymes for partly

• Nearby Words

partisanship
partition
partitioning
partly
partner
partnerless
partnership

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the noun 'part' (borrowed from Old French and Latin 'pars', meaning 'piece' or 'division') combined with the adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Partly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/partly
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