What does detailedly mean?
"Detailedly" is an adverb meaning in a way that covers or attends to many small particulars; it describes actions done thoroughly and minutely, as when someone explains a procedure detailedly or recounts events detailedly. Formed by adding the adverbial suffix "-ly" to the adjective "detailed," it is fully grammatical and understood throughout the English-speaking world, yet it remains surprisingly rare: most native speakers reach for the phrase "in detail" or adverbs like "thoroughly" or "exhaustively" instead. As a result, "detailedly" can strike readers as slightly formal or even unusual, though it is well attested in technical manuals, legal writing, and reports where precision matters. It is especially common in South Asian English. For writers seeking variety beyond "in detail," it offers a compact single-word alternative, provided its slightly bookish tone suits the register of the surrounding prose.
adverbIn a way that includes or attends to many small particulars; thoroughly and minutely.
- In a manner marked by attention to small particulars; at length or in depth.
"The report described the incident detailedly, down to the exact time each call was logged."
"The manual explains the setup process detailedly, with diagrams for every step."
"She answered the committee's questions detailedly, leaving no point unaddressed."
"Detailedly" is perfectly legitimate English — yet so rare that many spellcheckers flag it, making it one of the language's most overlooked adverbs.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of detailedly
"Detailedly" derives from the adjective "detailed," which comes from the noun "detail." That noun entered English in the early seventeenth century from French "détail," itself from "détailler," meaning to cut into pieces, formed from the prefix "dé-" plus "tailler" (to cut), ultimately from Latin "talea," a cutting or twig. The same Latin root gave English "retail" and, via Old French, "tailor." The adverb "-ly" suffix was added later to produce "detailedly," following a common pattern of adverb formation from participial adjectives.
Related word forms
How detailedly is actually used
"Detailedly" is correct but uncommon; most writers prefer "in detail" or "thoroughly." It appears mainly in formal or technical writing and is more frequent in Indian English than in British or American usage. Some style guides consider it awkward.
Easily confused with detailedly
"In detail" is the standard idiomatic phrase meaning thoroughly, while "detailedly" is a grammatical but much rarer adverbial form of "detailed."