What does expressly mean?
"Expressly" is a formal adverb meaning "in a clear, explicit manner" — used when something is stated directly and unambiguously rather than implied or hinted at. It appears most often in legal, contractual, and official writing, as in "the agreement expressly prohibits subletting," where it signals that no interpretation or inference is needed because the point has been made unmistakably plain. A second, less common sense means "for the specific or exclusive purpose of," as in "a room expressly designed for rehearsals." The word derives from Latin roots meaning "to press out" — the same root behind "express" and "expression" — suggesting the image of drawing something out into full view. Its connotation is one of precision, deliberateness, and formality; using it signals that what follows is not accidental, ambiguous, or open to debate.
In a clear and explicit manner; explicitly, without ambiguity.
"The will expressly names her eldest son as sole executor."
Particularly common in legal and contractual language where precision is essential.
For a specific or exclusive purpose; specially.
"The pavilion was expressly built for outdoor concerts."
In legal documents, "expressly" is the word lawyers trust to mean there's zero ambiguity — if something isn't done expressly, it arguably wasn't done at all.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of expressly
"Expressly" comes from the verb "express," which entered Middle English from Old French "expresser," ultimately from Latin "exprimere" — meaning "to press out" (from "ex-" meaning "out" and "premere" meaning "to press"). The adverb developed in English by the late Middle English period, carrying the sense of something drawn out and made fully visible or explicit. It shares its Latin root with related words such as "expression," "expressive," and even "espresso" (Italian for coffee pressed out under steam pressure), making it part of a family all rooted in the idea of forcing something into the open.
Related word forms
How expressly is actually used
Common in formal, legal, and contractual registers where precision matters. The second sense ("for a specific purpose") is somewhat more literary and less frequent in everyday speech.
Easily confused with expressly
"Explicitly" emphasizes clarity of statement, while "expressly" often carries a legal or formal tone and can also mean "for a specific purpose."
"Especially" means "particularly" or "above all," whereas "expressly" means "explicitly" or "for the specific purpose of."