aerially

Aerially is an adverb formed from the adjective aerial, meaning relating to, occurring in, or moving through the air. In English, aerially describes something done in the air or by means of air, such as actions performed while airborne or observations conducted from above.

Etymology and form: The adjective aerial derives from Latin aerialis, meaning “of air,” via the heritage of the word aer- (air). The adverbial suffix -ly yields aerially. The construction is standard for turning adjectives into adverbs in English, though the word is relatively uncommon in everyday use.

Usage and context: Aerially tends to appear in technical, scientific, or descriptive writing, and is less common in ordinary speech. Many writers opt for clearer or more natural alternatives such as airborne, in the air, or from the air, depending on the context. When used, it often conveys a sense of movement or existence within the air column, or of being observed or dispersed through the air. For example, pollen might be described as dispersed aerially by the wind, or a device could capture signals aerially from above.

Note on style: Because aerially is relatively rare outside specialized contexts, some editors consider it formal or stylistically heavy. In more conventional prose, alternatives like “in the air” or “airborne” are usually preferable for broad readership, while aerially may be appropriate in technical descriptions or poetic passages.

See also: aerial, airborne, in the air.