Approssimativamente

Approssimativamente is an Italian adverb used to indicate that a value, quantity, duration, or time is not exact but close to the stated figure. It functions as a hedge in estimation, appearing in scientific, technical, and everyday language when precision is not required or not available. It can be used with numbers, measurements, dates, and durations to signal an approximation, and is often preferred in more formal contexts over casual synonyms.

Etymology and form: the word is formed from the adjective approssimativo/approssimativo through the adverbial suffix -mente. It ultimately derives from the verb approssimare, which comes from Latin approximāre, meaning to bring near or to approach. The lexical family also includes the noun approssimazione (approximation) and the adjective approssimativo (approximate).

Usage notes: approssimativamente is common in technical writing, where figures may result from rounding, sampling, or estimation procedures. It can modify the following element, as in approssimativamente 1.000 persone, or appear after the element in some constructions, as in the costo è approssimativamente di 50.000 euro. In everyday speech, altri terms such as circa or più o meno are often used, but approssimativamente remains standard in more formal or precise contexts.

Examples: approssimativamente 3.000 copie sono state stampate. Il budget è approssimativamente di 2 milioni di euro. La data di rilascio è approssimativamente fine luglio.

See also: approssimazione, approssimativo, circa, grosso modo.