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Added 4 October 2026

otherwise

/ˈʌð.əˌwaɪz/ adverb

In Latin: alioqui, aliter Wiktionary

adverb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about otherwise at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Differently, in another way.
You may have a point, but I think otherwise.
In different circumstances; or else.
I’m not well today, otherwise I would have helped.
In all other respects; apart from that; except for this.
He lost his temper once in a while. Otherwise he behaved rationally.

adjective

Other than supposed; different.
He said he didn’t do it, but the evidence was otherwise.

Origin

From Middle English otherwise, othre wise, from Old English on ōþre wīsan (literally “in (on) other/different manner”); equivalent to other + -wise. Compare West Frisian yn oarwei (“otherwise”), Icelandic öðruvísi (“different”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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