# namely

/ˈneɪmɫi/ (US) · /nˈeɪmli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/namely
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. specifically

adverb · CEFR B2 · Formal

you use this to give the exact name or detail of something you have just mentioned.

For teachers: used to introduce a specific name, list, or description that identifies something previously mentioned in general terms.

- We have one major problem to solve, namely the lack of funding.
- The survey identified three primary areas of concern, namely job security, wage stagnation, and the rising cost of healthcare.

Usage: Usually follows a comma and precedes the specific noun or list it identifies.

Teaching tip: While 'namely' is formal, it is very common in academic writing to clarify a general category mentioned earlier in the sentence.

### 2. especially

adverb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old-fashioned way to say 'especially' or 'above all'.

For teachers: used to single out a particular person or thing as being more important than others.

- The king was loved by all his subjects, namely by the poor.
- The laws were designed to protect the interests of the merchant class, namely those involved in the wool trade.

Usage: Rarely encountered in modern prose except when reading historical texts.

Teaching tip: Students should recognize this in older literature but avoid using it in their own modern writing.

## Examples

- We have one major problem, namely a lack of money.
- The company is focusing on two specific markets, namely Brazil and Vietnam, to drive its international growth this year.
- The report identifies the primary cause of the project's failure, namely the lack of clear communication between the engineering and design departments during the initial phase.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.