What does temporally mean?
“Temporally” is an adverb meaning “with respect to time” or “in terms of temporal order.” It is especially useful when the issue is not simply how long something lasts, but when it happened, how events are sequenced, or how one period relates to another. Academic writing, historiography, linguistics, law, and systems analysis regularly use it in this sense, giving it a concise alternative to a longer phrase such as “in relation to time.” In some dictionaries and contexts, “temporally” also means “for a limited period,” or “temporarily,” although this use is less common and can sound technical. The word is formal and precise rather than everyday, so writers may prefer “temporally related,” “in time,” or “temporarily,” depending on what they mean. Its distinctive value is that it makes time itself the explicit basis of comparison.
adverbWith respect to time or the ordering of events. In a less common usage, it means temporarily or for a limited period.
- With respect to time, especially temporal order, sequence, or duration.
- For a limited period; temporarily.
"The accounts must be compared temporally to establish which event came first."
"Historians compare the accounts temporally, placing each testimony within the chronology of the events."
"The apparent delay was temporally corrected by later measurements."
Temporally asks when; spatially asks where.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does temporally come from?
“Temporally” derives from the English adjective “temporal,” meaning “of or relating to time.” “Temporal” ultimately comes from Latin temporalis, which was formed from tempus, meaning “time.” The same Latin root also underlies “temporary,” “temporality,” and “contemporary,” while the English adverb was formed by adding the suffix “-ly” to “temporal.”
How temporally is actually used
Most common in academic, historical, linguistic, legal, and technical contexts. It is formal and precise rather than conversational; when the intended meaning is simply “for a short time,” “temporarily” is usually clearer.
Easily confused with temporally
Temporary is an adjective describing something that lasts for a short time, whereas temporally is an adverb that usually means with respect to time or temporal sequence.