What does "routinely" mean?

1. (regularly or normally) happening often or as a standard part of a job or life. 2. (without much thought) doing something just because it is a habit, sometimes without thinking about it.

How do you use "routinely"?

Often carries a slightly negative connotation of being bored or unthinking.

routinely

adv.

US //ɹuˈtinɫi// UK //ɹuːtˈiːnli// rou·tine·ly

1 regularly or normally (adv.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

happening often or as a standard part of a job or life.

occurring as a matter of regular procedure or established custom.

Example

The hospital routinely tests all new patients for the virus.

Example

The software routinely backs up all user data to a secure cloud server every hour to prevent accidental loss.
- occasionally
- rarely
2 without much thought (adv.)
C1 Advanced Formal

doing something just because it is a habit, sometimes without thinking about it.

performed in a mechanical or perfunctory manner, often as a result of repetition.

Example

He routinely checked his phone for messages every few minutes.

Example

The clerk routinely stamped the documents without actually reading the information they contained.

Usage

Often carries a slightly negative connotation of being bored or unthinking.
- mechanically
- automatically
- deliberately
- consciously

Origin

From routine + -ly.

Word family

Nouncoroutine
Nounroutine
Adverbroutinely