historically

/hɪˈstɒɹɪkli/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

In a historic manner; with reference to history or the historical record.

Adverb

Examples

Historically speaking, this company has always collected payment before starting work.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

According to history: formerly, in the past, traditionally.

Adverb

Examples

Historically, this company collected payment before starting work.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “historically” mean?

In a historic manner; with reference to history or the historical record.

Is “historically” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.