Typically

How to spell typically

9 letters · 4 syllables

How to pronounce typically

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does typically mean?

1. adverbIn a way that is usual, expected, or representative of a particular type.

Typically in a sentence

• The morning commute typically takes about forty minutes.

• A starter contract typically runs for twelve months before renewal.

Where does typically come from?

Language of origin: Greek

This adverb traces back to the Greek noun typos, which literally meant a blow, an impression, or the mark left by a strike, and from there came to mean a model, pattern, or characteristic figure. Latin borrowed it as typus, and the late Latin adjective typicus described something that served as a representative example. English built 'typical' on that root around the early 1600s, meaning 'serving as a characteristic specimen', and then added the familiar '-ly' to form the adverb 'typically'. The spelling trap lives in that layered ending: the base 'typical' already finishes in '-al', so adding '-ly' produces the double 'l' (typical + ly = typically), even though only one 'l' is pronounced. The same typos root sits inside everyday relatives like 'type', 'prototype', and 'stereotype', all of which preserve the idea of an impression or pattern.

How the word is built

• typic- (from Greek typos: impression, model, type)
• -al (adjective suffix)
• -ly (adverb suffix)