approximately

Approximately is an adverb used to indicate that a value or quantity is close to another value but not exactly equal. It is common in everyday language, scientific reporting, and data presentation to convey estimation, rounding, or uncertainty. It is typically placed before a number or measurement: approximately 42 kilograms, approximately 2.5 hours.

In mathematics and science, the concept is connected to a tolerance or error margin. The symbol ≈ is used to denote approximate equality rather than exact equality, as in pi ≈ 3.1416. In measurement, results are often stated with uncertainty terms such as 10.0 ± 0.5 units or within 1 percent of the true value.

Etymology: approximately derives from Latin approximatus, from proximus 'nearest', via the verb approximare and through Old French aprochier or approximé, entering English in the Early Modern period.

Usage notes: while approximately communicates non-exactness, it can be imprecise. When precision matters, researchers report uncertainty ranges, rounding rules, or confidence intervals to clarify what is being estimated.