Logically

How to spell logically

9 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce logically

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does logically mean?

1. adverbIn a way that follows sound reasoning or naturally results from what came before.

Logically in a sentence

• If you think about it logically, the cheaper supplier makes the most sense.

• She explained each step logically so the whole team could follow her plan.

Where does logically come from?

Language of origin: Greek

This adverb traces back to the Greek word logos, which literally meant 'word', 'speech', or 'reason', and which gave Greek philosophers the term logike (techne), the 'art of reasoning'. Latin took this in as logica, and it passed into English through Old French during the late medieval period as 'logic', the study of valid argument. Once English had the noun, it built the adjective 'logical' by adding the familiar -al ending, and then formed the adverb 'logically' with -ly to describe doing something in a reasoned, orderly way. The same logos root sits inside a vast family of English words, from 'dialogue' and 'apology' to every science ending in -logy, all of which deal with words, study, or reasoning. The spelling stays regular: keep the full base 'logical' and simply add -ly, so the doubled letter you hear is just the 'l' of 'logical' meeting the 'l' of '-ly'.

How the word is built

• log- (from Greek logos: word, reason)
• -ic (relating to)
• -al (adjective)
• -ly (adverb)