essentiellement

Essentiellement is a French adverb meaning essentially, fundamentally, or mainly. It is used to indicate the core, primary, or most important aspect of a statement, often to distinguish what is central from peripheral details. In usage, it can introduce a summary of the core idea or frame an assessment around a defining characteristic.

Etymology and grammar: Essentiellement is formed from the adjective essentiel (essential) with the adverbial suffix -ment. Essentiel itself comes from Latin essentialis, from essentia (essence) with the Latin suffix -alis. As an adverb, essentiellement does not change for gender or number and typically modifies the verb or the whole proposition, e.g., “La question est essentiellement économique.”

Usage notes: The word carries a neutral to formal tone and is common in academic, journalistic, and analytic writing. It can be placed before or after the phrase it modifies, and is often used to scope a claim to its most important aspect. Related terms include essentiellement synonyms like principalement, en substance, or fondamentalement; contrasts may be drawn with peripherally or accessoirement to emphasize non-central aspects.

Examples: “Le problème est essentiellement lié à la communication.” “Essentiellement, il s’agit d’un choix stratégique.” “Cette mesure est essentiellement destinée à améliorer la sécurité.”