Mathematically

How to spell mathematically

14 letters · 6 syllables

How to pronounce mathematically

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does mathematically mean?

1. adverbIn a way that relates to mathematics, or by means of calculation and numerical reasoning.

Mathematically in a sentence

• The engineer proved mathematically that the bridge could bear the load.

• Winning the lottery twice in a row is mathematically almost impossible.

Where does mathematically come from?

Language of origin: Greek

This word traces back to the ancient Greek mathema, meaning 'that which is learned' or 'knowledge', which itself grew from the verb manthanein, 'to learn'. From mathema the Greeks formed mathematikos, an adjective describing someone fond of learning and, increasingly, the study of numbers and quantities. The term passed into Latin as mathematicus and reached English in the late Middle Ages, giving us 'mathematic' and then 'mathematical'. The adverb 'mathematically' was built in the usual English way by adding -ly to the adjective, and the doubled internal structure (mathematic + al + ly) explains why the ending is -cally rather than a simpler -cly. A pleasant surprise in the history is that to the early Greeks the root meant general learning of any kind, only later narrowing to the precise science of number and shape that we mean today.

How the word is built

• mathematic- (from Greek mathematikos: relating to learning/mathematics)
• -al (adjective)
• -ly (adverb)