What does "wholly" mean?

1. (completely) completely and entirely, with no exceptions. 2. (exclusively) only or solely; involving nothing else.

How do you use "wholly"?

As a non-gradable adverb, it does not take modifiers like 'very' or 'extremely'. Frequently used in legal or business contexts to describe ownership or responsibility.

wholly

adv.

US //ˈhoʊɫi// UK //hˈəʊli// whol·ly

1 completely (adv.)
C1 Advanced Formal

completely and entirely, with no exceptions.

to the fullest extent or degree; used to indicate that a state or action is absolute.

Example

The two situations are wholly different and cannot be compared.

Example

The committee found that the initial reports were wholly inaccurate, leading to a complete restructuring of the project's timeline.

Usage

As a non-gradable adverb, it does not take modifiers like 'very' or 'extremely'.
- partially
- slightly
2 exclusively (adv.)
C1 Advanced Formal

only or solely; involving nothing else.

exclusively or solely; indicating that a particular factor is the only one involved.

Example

The company is now wholly owned by a larger international group.

Example

The success of the initiative was wholly dependent on the cooperation of local authorities, without whom the plan would have failed.

Usage

Frequently used in legal or business contexts to describe ownership or responsibility.
- partly

Origin

From Middle English holly, holeliche, holliche (also as halely, hallich, etc.), equivalent to whole + -ly. Doublet of holy.