Précisément

Précisément is a French adverb meaning precisely, exactly, or to be exact. It is used to stress accuracy, to confirm a statement, or to introduce a precise restatement. In both formal writing and everyday speech, it functions as a marker of clarity and precision.

The word derives from the adjective précis, meaning exact or concise, which in turn comes from Latin præcisus “cut off, separated.” The adverb is formed by adding the suffix -ément to précis.

Pronunciation is approximately “preh-see-zay-mahn” for speakers of English, with the final nasal sound typical of French. In standard French transcription it is represented as [pʁe.si.zə.mɑ̃].

Usage tends to emphasize accuracy or specificity. Examples: « Il a, précisément, décrit les étapes. » and « Ce mot est précisément ce que nous cherchions. » It can also function as an interjection to signal agreement or correction: simply « Précisément. » as a reply.

In nuance, précisément differs from exactement, which also means “exactly” but carries a more literal sense of equality, whereas précisément foregrounds careful accuracy and clarity. It shares with précis (the adjective meaning exact or concise) a focus on precision, but the adverbial form supplies a deliberate emphasis in discourse.

See also: exactement, justement, précis. The term is common in formal and informal French, including journalism, academic prose, and everyday conversation, where speakers seek to underscore exactness or precise articulation.