visually

Visually is an adverb meaning "in a way that relates to sight or is perceived by the sense of sight." In everyday use it describes how something is seen or presented rather than how it sounds or feels. It is common in discussions of design, media, communication, and perception, where writers attribute qualities to appearance, layout, color, or form. Examples include phrases like “a visually striking poster” or “visually impaired.”

Etymology-wise, the word is formed by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective visual. Visual derives from Latin visualis, from visus meaning sight. The development of the word reflects its function: to designate manner or modality in relation to vision.

Usage considerations emphasize that visually focuses on sight and visual presentation. It can contrast with terms that reference other senses or modalities, such as verbally or aurally. In technical or design-oriented writing, visually oriented analyses or descriptions address how information is perceived through the eyes, including aspects like color, layout, and form. Related words include visual, vision, visualize, and visualization. In contemporary usage, visually is commonly employed with adjectives such as striking, appealing, or cluttered, and with phrases like “visually guided,” “visually dominant,” or “visually balanced.”