]ə̇k(ə)lē, ]ēk-, -li adverb
1. : with reference to theory
the most conservative theoretically of the … British chemists — S.F.Mason
: in a theoretical way
it is quite possible to enjoy flowers … without knowing anything about plants theoretically — John Dewey
2. : according to an ideal or assumed set of facts or principles : in theory : hypothetically
the absolute … vacuum theoretically involves an area in which no atomic particles are present — T.A.Dickinson
a task that would theoretically take a man equipped with pencil and paper 800 years — Robert Bendiner