Word
categorically
Phoneticscat·e·gor·i·cal·ly
US/ˌkætəˈɡɑɹɪkɫi/
UK/kˌætɪɡˈɒɹɪkli/
Definition
adv. in a way that is very clear and certain. You use this when you want to say 'no' or 'yes' without any doubt at all.
adv. in a manner that is absolute, explicit, and leaves no room for doubt or exception.
Examples
“She categorically denied the rumors.”
“The government spokesperson categorically rejected any suggestion that the tax laws would change before the next election.”
“The lead scientist stated that the results were categorically conclusive, effectively ending a decade of debate within the academic community regarding the experiment's validity.”
Examples
simple
“She categorically denied the rumors.”
contextual
“The government spokesperson categorically rejected any suggestion that the tax laws would change before the next election.”
complex
“The lead scientist stated that the results were categorically conclusive, effectively ending a decade of debate within the academic community regarding the experiment's validity.”
Usage
Often used to modify verbs of communication like 'deny', 'reject', 'refuse', or 'state'.
Real-World Examples
“Qatar "categorically denied" Iran's claims and said it was "surprised by these misleading statements".” “When the details Arday gave about the pig’s head investigation were checked by London’s Metropolitan police, the Guardian was told they were “categorically” incorrect and no investigation had taken place.” Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/categorically