- with a lot of control and rules that must be obeyed
- She was brought up very strictly.
- The industry is strictly regulated.
- used to emphasize that something happens or must happen in all circumstances synonym absolutely
- Smoking is strictly forbidden.
- My letter is, of course, strictly private and confidential.
- in all details; exactly
- This is not strictly true.
- used to emphasize that something only applies to one particular person, thing or situation synonym purely
- We'll look at the problem from a strictly legal point of view.
- I know we're friends, but this is strictly business.
- Their relationship is strictly platonic.
Idioms
See strictly in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee strictly in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishstrictly speaking
- if you are using words or rules in their exact or correct sense
- Strictly speaking, the book is not a novel, but a short story.
- Using the word in that context is not, strictly speaking, correct.
Check pronunciation:
strictly