Physiquement

Physiquement is a French adverb meaning "in a physical manner" or "physically." It is used to describe aspects related to the body, material properties, or the external physical state of something. In everyday language and in scientific or medical writing, it helps distinguish physical descriptions from mental, emotional, or social ones.

The term derives from physique, the noun for body or physical nature, which in turn comes from Latin physica and Greek physis. The suffix -ment is used to form adverbs in French, giving physiquement the meaning of acting or existing in a physical sense. As an adverb, it typically modifies verbs or adjectives, or introduces a viewpoint about physical state: Physiquement, il est en bonne santé; Le matériau est physiquement stable à température ambiante.

Usage notes and nuance: physiquement often appears in contexts comparing physical conditions to other dimensions (psychological, moral, or social). It translates to physically, bodily, or in physical terms in English. It should not be confused with related terms like physique (body or physique as a noun, or the study of physics in English) or physiologique (physiological, which describes bodily processes rather than overall physical state).

Examples:

- Physiquement, elle est en excellente forme.

- Le véhicule est physiquement endommagé après l'accident.

- Le candidat est physiquement présent sur le plateau.

See also: physique, physiquement related forms, and fysiology terms in French.