broadly

Broadly is an adverb used to indicate that something is true in a general sense, rather than in detail or for every case. It conveys broad scope or approximate truth, often accompanied by caveats. For example, one might say, “Broadly speaking, the project succeeded,” to signal that most aspects worked even if some specifics did not. The phrase commonly appears in constructions such as “broadly speaking” or “broadly defined.”

Etymology and usage patterns: Broadly derives from the adjective broad (“wide, expansive”) plus the suffix -ly to form an adverb. It has long been part of English to qualify statements in a non-specific or general manner. It contrasts with more precise or narrower terms, and speakers may choose it to soften conclusions or to indicate that a statement applies to most but not all cases.

Nuance and alternatives: Broadly is useful for signaling generalization without asserting universal applicability. It often accompanies qualifiers or generalizations, as in “Broadly, the results support the hypothesis,” or “Broadly defined categories can obscure important edge cases.” It is less forceful than words like “definitely” or “certainly,” and somewhat less formal than “generally speaking.”

Broadly (brand) is also the name of a digital publication formerly owned by Vice Media. Focused on women’s issues, sexuality, and culture, it produced articles and video content aimed at a young, global audience. As part of broader corporate changes in the media landscape, Broadly operated as a standalone vertical for a period before being integrated with Vice’s main editorial ecosystem and ultimately ceasing to exist as an independent brand.