Superficially

Superficially is an adverb that describes doing or judging something at only a surface level, without attention to deeper factors or underlying causes. It can refer to observations, analyses, or judgments that consider appearance or basic features rather than thorough examination. The term often implies that more substantial assessment is needed.

In usage, superficially is common with verbs such as examine, compare, resemble, or seem: “The issue was examined superficially,” “They appeared superficially similar but differed on key metrics.” It can carry a cautious or pejorative nuance, suggesting that care or rigor is lacking or that a deeper investigation would reveal important differences.

Etymology: superficially derives from the adjective superficial, which comes from the Latin superficialis meaning “on the surface,” from super- “over, above” and facies “face, appearance.” The adverb form emerged in English by adding the -ly suffix to the adjective.

See also: superficial, surface, surface-level, superficiality.