'zackly | 'zactly, adv.

zackly
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zackly_adv%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1986; not fully revised

# 'zackly | 'zactlyadverb

## Earlier version

- 'zackly in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the adverb 'zackly mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adverb 'zackly. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How is the adverb 'zackly pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzakli/
/ˈzaktli/

### Where does the adverb 'zackly come from?

Earliest known use

1880s

The earliest known use of the adverb 'zackly is in the 1880s.

OED's earliest evidence for 'zackly is from 1886, in the writing of Heinrich Baumann.

'zackly is a variant or alteration of another lexical item.

Etymons: exactly adv.

### Nearby entries

1. Z, n. Old English–
2. 'Z, adj.
3. za, n. 1968–
4. zaatar, n. 1917–
5. zabaglione, n. 1899–
6. zabernism, n. 1916–21
7. zabernize, v. 1914
8. zabra, n. 1523–
9. zabuton, n. 1879–
10. zac, n. 1898–
11. 'zackly | 'zactly, adv.1886–
12. zad, n. 1669–
13. Zadokite, n. & adj. 1910–
14. zadruga, n. 1887–
15. zaffre | zaffer, n. 1662–
16. zaftig, adj. 1921–
17. zafu, n. 1965–
18. zag, n., adv., & v. 1793–
19. zagaie | zagaye, n. 1590–1698
20. Zaghlulist, n. & adj. 1921–
21. zaguan, n. 1851–

## Etymology

### Summary

A variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymon: exactly adv.
Representing a pronunciation of exactly adv.

## Meaning & use

regional or colloquial.

1. 1886–
   = exactly adv.
   1. 1886

      > ‘Zactly.., exactly.

      H. Baumann, Londinismen 239/1
   2. 1893

      > Zackly.., negro for exactly.

      H. A. Shands, Some Peculiarities of Speech in Mississippi 69
   3. 1929

      > ‘Yessuh,’ Simon agreed readily. ‘Hit struck me jes' 'zackly dat way.’

      W. Faulkner, Sartoris iii. vi. 232
   4. 1929

      > ‘Isn't the sunshine lovely, Mr. Lewis?’ ‘Eh, ooh? 'Zactly!’

      H. Williamson, Beautiful Years (revised edition) vi. 63
   5. 1973

      > Her dress was 'zactly like mine.

      American Speech 1970 vol. 45 77
   6. 1983

      > Some people believed that Mr. Snow was, in West Country parlance ‘not quite zackly’... I think he was just simple in the true sense of the word.

      R. Sutcliff, Blue Remembered Hills xii. 91
   colloquial and slang
   1. right Old English–
      In accordance with the facts or the truth of the case; accurately, correctly, exactly.
   2. rightly Old English–
      In accordance with truth or fact; correctly, without error; exactly, accurately.
   3. faithfully c1425–
      In accordance with the facts or original; accurately, correctly, exactly, truthfully.
   4. precisely a1513–1626
      In definite or precise terms; expressly. Obsolete.
   5. justly a1538
      In accordance with reason, truth, or reality; with good reason or truth; justifiably, properly.
   6. verbatim 1566–1683
      In so many words; exactly, precisely. Obsolete.
   7. strictly 1602–
      With exact use of words; exactly, precisely. Often in the parenthetic phrase strictly speaking or to speak strictly.
   8. exactly 1662–
      Of resemblance, agreement, adaptation, correlation: Precisely; without any discrepancy.
   9. correctly a1704–
      In a correct manner; in accordance with what is considered right; exactly, accurately, without error: see the adjective.
   10. prezactly 1835–
       Exactly; precisely. Frequently in representations of rural (esp. southern) speech. Cf. perzactly, adv.
   11. sensu stricto 1849–
       Strictly speaking; in the narrow sense (of a term, esp. in the natural sciences). Opposed to sensu lato, adv. Cf. stricto sensu, adv.
   12. perzactly 1850–
       Exactly; precisely. Frequently in representations of rural speech. Cf. prezactly, adv.
   13. 'zackly 1886–
       = exactly, adv.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzakli/
/ˈzaktli/

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

'zackly, adv. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

'zackly, adv. was last modified in June 2025.