Sadly

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈsadli/

Origin

From sad + -ly.

Full definition of sadly

Adverb

1. In a sad manner; sorrowfully.
2. Unfortunately, sad to say.If you think you’re getting out of this place alive, you are sadly mistaken, my friend.Sadly, the two were never to meet again.
• 2012, April 15, Phil McNulty, Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea, Before kick-off, a section of Chelsea's support sadly let themselves and their club down by noisily interrupting the silence held in memory of the Hillsborough disaster and for Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack during a Serie B game on Saturday.
3. (obsolete) Deeply, completely.
• 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VI:and there he founde a bed, and layde hym therein, and felle on slepe sadly.

Usage notes

In sense of “unfortunately”, most often used either in the collocation “sadly mistaken” or as a sentence adverb. See discussion of sentence modifiers at hopefully and regretfully.

Synonyms

• (in a sad manner) sorrowfully, ruefully, mournfully, regretfully various terms for particular shades of sadness
• (unfortunately) unfortunately, sad to say, regrettably, regretfully, alas