What does advisedly mean?
"Advisedly" is a formal adverb meaning deliberately or after careful consideration. When a speaker says that a word was used advisedly, they are emphasizing that the choice was intentional and weighed, not casual or accidental. The word appears most often in formal writing, legal discourse, and public statements, typically attached to verbs such as "said," "chosen," or "used." Its connotation is one of deliberateness and even caution: it can suggest that the speaker anticipated how the words might be received and stands by them nonetheless. Derived from the verb "advise," which traces back through Old French to Latin roots relating to seeing and judgment, "advisedly" shares ancestry with words like "advice" and "vision." Its natural opposites include "rashly," "hastily," and "impulsively." For writers seeking a precise way to signal that nothing in a statement was left to chance, "advisedly" remains an elegant and authoritative choice.
adverbDeliberately and after careful consideration; intentionally. Often used to emphasize that a word or action was chosen thoughtfully rather than by accident.
- Deliberately, intentionally, after careful consideration — especially said of words or choices to stress that nothing was accidental.
"The committee chose its words advisedly, knowing the statement would be scrutinized."
"The judge remarked, advisedly, that the sentence should serve as a warning to others."
"Her praise was given advisedly; she rarely complimented work that did not merit it."
When someone says they used a word "advisedly," they're telling you it was no accident — every syllable was weighed before it left their mouth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of advisedly
"Advisedly" derives from the verb "advise," which entered English from Old French "aviser," ultimately rooted in Latin elements meaning to consider or look at (related to "videre," to see). The adverb form developed in Middle English to express the sense of acting with deliberation or forethought. It is thus cognate with "advice" and "advisory," and more distantly related to Latin-derived words of seeing such as "vision" and "supervise."
How advisedly is actually used
Formal in register and most at home in written or elevated spoken English. It frequently modifies verbs of speaking or choosing (said, chosen, used) and carries a slightly emphatic tone, signaling that the speaker wishes to forestall any suggestion of carelessness.
Easily confused with advisedly
"Advised" is an adjective or past participle meaning informed or counseled (as in "keep me advised"), while "advisedly" is an adverb meaning deliberately or after consideration.