Mostly means “for the greatest part” or “in general, but not completely.” It shows that something is true in most cases, with some exceptions.
Formed in Middle English from *most* plus the adverb-making suffix *-ly*. It developed to describe degree or extent based on the idea of “the greatest amount.”
When people say “It’s mostly fine,” they’re sneaking in room for problems without sounding too negative. “Mostly” is a softener: it lets you talk about trends and patterns without committing to 100% certainty. It’s a great word for being honest and careful at the same time.
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