First published 1986; not fully revised
'zackly | 'zactly adverb 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.
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 Z, n. Old English– 'Z, adj. za, n. 1968– zaatar, n. 1917– zabaglione, n. 1899– zabernism, n. 1916–21 zabernize, v. 1914 zabra, n. 1523– zabuton, n. 1879– zac, n. 1898– 'zackly | 'zactly, adv. 1886– zad, n. 1669– Zadokite, n. & adj. 1910– zadruga, n. 1887– zaffre | zaffer, n. 1662– zaftig, adj. 1921– zafu, n. 1965– zag, n., adv., & v. 1793– zagaie | zagaye, n. 1590–1698 Zaghlulist, n. & adj. 1921– zaguan, n. 1851– A variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Representing a pronunciation of
exactly adv. Show less
1886–
1886
‘Zactly .., exactly. H. Baumann , Londinismen 239/1
1893
Zackly .., negro for exactly . H. A. Shands , Some Peculiarities of Speech in Mississippi 69
1929
‘Yessuh,’ Simon agreed readily. ‘Hit struck me jes' 'zackly dat way.’ W. Faulkner , Sartoris iii. vi. 232
1929
‘Isn't the sunshine lovely, Mr. Lewis?’ ‘Eh, ooh? 'Zactly !’ H. Williamson , Beautiful Years (revised edition) vi. 63
1973
Her dress was 'zactly like mine. American Speech 1970 vol. 45 77
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
▶ more ▼ less In accordance with the facts or the truth of the case; accurately, correctly, exactly.
In accordance with truth or fact; correctly, without error; exactly, accurately.
In accordance with the facts or original; accurately, correctly, exactly, truthfully.
In definite or precise terms; expressly. Obsolete .
In accordance with reason, truth, or reality; with good reason or truth; justifiably, properly.
In so many words; exactly, precisely. Obsolete .
With exact use of words; exactly, precisely. Often in the parenthetic phrase strictly speaking or to speak strictly .
Of resemblance, agreement, adaptation, correlation: Precisely; without any discrepancy.
In a correct manner; in accordance with what is considered right; exactly, accurately, without error: see the adjective.
Exactly; precisely. Frequently in representations of rural (esp. southern) speech. Cf. perzactly , adv.
Strictly speaking; in the narrow sense (of a term, esp. in the natural sciences). Opposed to sensu lato , adv. Cf. stricto sensu , adv.
Exactly; precisely. Frequently in representations of rural speech. Cf. prezactly , adv.
Pronunciation keys British English Consonants p p eat t eak k eyb b uyd d yeɡ g uytʃ ch oredʒ j ayf f oreθ th aws s oreʃ sh orev v eeð th eez z eeʒ beig e x loch h h ayl l ayɬ rhingyll r r ayw w ayj y orem m ayn n ayŋ sing 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 iː fleece i happy ɪ kit ɛ dress a trap, bath ɑː start, palm, bath ɒ lot ɔː thought, force ʌ strut ʊ foot uː goose ə letter əː nurse ɪə near ɛː square ʊə cure eɪ face ʌɪ pride aʊ mouth əʊ goat ɔɪ voice ã gratin ɒ̃ salon 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.
>